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The  University  of  Chicago  Publications 
IN  Religious  Education 


CONSTRUCTIVE  STUDIES— ETHICAL  GROUP 

EDITED  BY 

ERNEST  D.  BURTON 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  BOYHOOD 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CHICAGO  PRESS 
CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS 


AgftttB 
THE  CAMBRIDGE  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 

LONDON  AND  EDINBCKGH 

THE  MARUZEN-KABUSHIKI-KAISHA 

TOKYO,  OSAKA,  KYOTO 

KARL  W.  HIERSEMANN 

LEIPZIG 

THE  BAKER  &  TAYLOR  COMPANY 

KKW  TOBK 


^  \  },     i   ■ 


THE  PROBLEMS 
OF  BOYHOOD 


A  COURSE  IN  ETHICS  FOR  BOYS  OF 
HIGH-SCHOOL  AGE 


By 
Franklin  Winslow  Johnson 

Principal  of  the  University  High  School 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CHICAGO  PRESS 
CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS 


Copyright  1914  By 
The  University  of  Chicago 


All  Rights  Reserved 


Published  September  1914 

eOUCATION  DEFr« 


Composed  and  Printed  By 

The  University  of  Chicajfo  Press 

Chicago.  Illinois,  U.S.A. 


TO  THE  BOYS  OF  THE  DISCUSSION  CLUB  OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  HIGH  SCHOOL  WHO  HAVE  FURNISHED 
THE  INSPIRATION  FOR  THESE  STUDIES  AND  HAVE 
PROVIDED  MUCH  OF  THE  MATERIAL  WHICH  THEY  CON- 
TAIN, THIS  LITTLE  BOOK  IS  DEDICATED  IN  THE  HOPE 

that  it  may  prove  helpful  to  many  other  boys. 

The  Author 


54 4204 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

A  Foreword  to  the  Teacher xi 

A  Foreword  to  the  Boy xxiii 

STUDY 

I.  Two  Views  of  Boyhood i 

II.  Some  Elemental  Problems       ....  6 

III.  Custom ii 

IV.  Habit i6 

V.  Honesty 21 

VI.  Property  Rights 31 

VII.  Gambung  and  Betting 37 

VIII.  Speech:  Slang  and  Profanity      ...  42 

IX.  Clean  Thinking  and  Speaking      ...  48 

X.  The  Problem  of  Sex 53 

XI.  Alcoholic  Liquors  and  Tobacco  ...  59 

XII.  Courtesy  and  Respect 66 

XIII.  Self-control 70 

XIV.  Conservation  and  Efficiency  .     .     .  '  .  75 
XV.  Conservation  and  Efficiency — Continued  82 

XVI.  Loyalty 88 

XVII.  Citizenship 93 

XVni.  Clubs  and  Fraternities 99 

XIX.  The  Ideausm  of  Boyhood  ...     .     .     .  105 

XX.  Measure  of  Success no 

XXI.  The  Choice  of  a  Life-Work    .     .     .     .  115 

XXII.  Reugion 126 


A  FOREWORD  TO  THE  TEACHER 

To  one  who  is  interested  in  moral  or  religious 
instruction  in  the  Sunday  school,  the  pubhc  or 
private  school,  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  the  social  settlement,  or  other 
similar  organizations,  the  boy  in  his  teens  pre- 
sents a  pecuHarly  baffling  problem.  It  has 
not  been  difficult  to  make  the  work  of  the  Sun- 
day school  seem  interesting  and  worth  while  to 
both  boys  and  girls  up  to  the  age  of  twelve  or 
fourteen.  It  has  been  comparatively  easy  to 
hold  the  girls  right  on  through  the  period  of 
girlhood  up  to  young  womanhood.  But  with 
the  boy  from  fourteen  years  up  it  is  a  dififerent 
case.  The  physiological  changes  which  take 
place  at  this  time,  of  which  the  sudden  rapid 
physical  growth  is  the  most  obvious,  are  accom- 
panied by  more  profound  changes  which  afifect 
his  thought  and  conduct.  The  boy  who  has 
been  docile  and  gentle  suddenly  becomes  self- 
assertive  and  rough,  ready  to  question  the  au- 
thority of  teacher  or  parent.  He  craves  action, 
si 


xii  Foreword 

and  if  the  restraints  of  school  seem  too  severe, 
as  is  often  the  case,  he  rebels  and  will  have  no 
more  of  it  if  he  can  help  it.  Through  legal 
enactment,  the  state  keeps  him  in  school  up  to 
a  certain  age,  a  sense  of  the  value  of  an  educa- 
tion as  preparation  for  life's  activities  some- 
times holds  him  longer,  but  statistics  of  school 
attendance  show  all  too  well  how  strong  is  the 
craving  of  the  adolescent  boy  for  what  seems  to 
him  the  freer  life  out  of  school.  The  Sunday 
school  lacks  the  restraint  of  law  and  is  unable 
to  make  effective  the  appeal  of  utility.  The 
result  is  that  at  fourteen  the  boy  begins  to 
think  he  is  getting  too  old  for  the  Sunday  school, 
and  at  eighteen  most  of  the  boys  have  disap- 
peared. He  may  still  be  held  by  athletics  or 
other  social  activities  but  the  best-intentioned 
efforts  to  give  him  direct  moral  or  rehgious 
instruction  frequently  fail  to  secure  from  him 
an  interested  response. 

Now  we  may  assume  at  the  outset  that  this 
unhappy  outcome  is  not  the  fault  of  the  boy. 
He  is  following  out  the  laws  of  his  own  nature. 
Inability  to  understand  the  boy  and  meet  his 


Foreword  xiii 

needs  is  the  cause  of  our  failure  in  this  regard. 
The  recent  rapid  increase  in  the  enrohnent  of 
adolescent  boys  in  the  public  schools  has  been 
due  to  changes  in  the  methods  and  material 
of  instruction  from  the  point  of  view  of  the 
boy's  present  interests  and  future  occupation. 
Similar  adjustments  of  methods  and  material 
may  be  expected  to  secure  corresponding  re- 
sults in  the  direction  of  moral  and  religious 
education. 

A  movement  recently  inaugurated  by  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  in  a  number 
of  cities  promises  excellent  results.  On  the 
South  Side  of  Chicago,  at  the  Hyde  Park  branch 
of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  boys 
from  three  high  schools  meet  each  Wednes- 
day evening  from  November  to  May.  All 
sit  down  together  at  6:15  for  dinner  and  at 
6 :  45  meet  in  separate  rooms,  the  boys  from  each 
school  with  a  teacher  from  the  faculty  of  the 
school,  for  a  discussion  period  of  forty-five 
minutes.  One  of  these  classes  has  this  year 
begun  its  eighth  year  under  the  same  teacher, 
another,  its  fourth  year,  and  the  third,  its 


xiv  Foreword 

second  year.  The  number  at  dinner  varies 
from  sixty  to  more  than  a  hundred,  and  the 
two  oldest  classes  have  had  an  average  weekly 
attendance  for  the  past  two  years  of  twenty- 
five  or  more  boys. 

The  author  has  had  a  part  in  this  interesting 
movement,  having  just  begun  the  fourth  year 
with  the  "Discussion  Club"  from  his  school. 
The  membership  of  the  club  is  thoroughly 
representative,  having  had  for  one  year  as  its 
president  a  Catholic  boy,  and  for  another  a 
Jewish  boy.  The  author  has  placed  entire 
responsibihty  for  the  attendance  upon  the 
officers  and  members  of  the  club.  In  order 
to  prevent  any  impression  getting  abroad  in 
the  school  that  one  may  secure  favor  with  the 
principal  by  attending  the  meetings  of  the  club, 
he  has  never  invited  a  single  boy  to  attend  a 
meeting.  It  does  not  appear  that  the  dinner 
is  the  chief  attraction,  because  the  boys  pay 
the  cost  of  each  meal  and  not  infrequently  come 
into  the  class  discussion  after  the  dinner  is  over. 
That  the  attendance  has  continued  to  increase 
from  the  first  indicates  that  the  real  attraction 


Foreword  xv 

is  the  discussions  which  constitute  the  chief 
activity  of  the  club. 

The  important  question  at  the  beginning 
was  what  should  be  the  material  for  class  work. 
The  author  proposed  the  life  of  Jesus,  the  life 
of  Paul,  and  the  moral  problems  of  the  high- 
school  boy,  urging  strongly  the  life  of  Paul  as 
full  of  appeal  to  vigorous  young  boyhood.  No 
objection  was  made  to  the  use  of  New  Testa- 
ment material  by  the  Jewish  boys,  of  whom  there 
were  several  in  the  group,  but  it  was  the  unani- 
mous choice  of  the  boys  that  the  discussion  of 
the  specific  moral  problems  of  boyhood  be  taken 
up  instead  of  the  lives  of  Jesus  or  of  Paul  which 
most  of  them  had  studied  in  Sunday  school. 
Life  Questions  oj  High  School  Boys  by  Jenks 
was  accordingly  made  the  basis  of  the  first 
year's  work. 

In  the  course  of  the  year  certain  characteris- 
tics of  adolescent  boyhood  came  out  distinctly. 
In  the  first  place,  boys  are  exceedingly  fond  of 
discussing  whatever  is  of  timely  interest  to 
them.  Let  an  issue  be  placed  before  them,  not 
as  settled  but  as  open  to  discussion,  and  boys 


xvi  Foreword 

will  readily  take  sides  and  stoutly  defend  their 
positions.  And  while  some  of  their  ideas  will 
doubtless  reflect  their  immaturity  and  lack  of 
sound  judgment,  one  may  usually  count  on  a 
larger  degree  of  sincerity  than  is  sometimes  seen 
in  the  discussions  of  more  mature  men.  In  the 
hands  of  a  skilful  leader,  the  discussions  of  a 
group  of  boys  may  almost  always  be  brought  to 
a  satisfactory  conclusion,  which  will  have  been 
greatly  reinforced  and  made  a  vital  force  through 
the  discussion  from  which  it  has  finally  emerged. 
Again,  boys  have  a  tendency  to  respond  to 
directness  and  frankness  in  kind.  Your  boy 
is  a  masterful  bluffer  if  he  thinks  someone  is 
trying  to  get  an  advantage  and  sometimes  he 
becomes  a  bluffer  from  habit,  but  he  will  usually 
meet  you  half-way  when  it  comes  to  a  question 
of  frankness  and  fair  dealing.  He  will  often 
prove  a  severe  critic  of  himself  or  his  social 
group.  The  customs  and  habits  of  his  school  or 
club  he  will  discuss  with  absolute  frankness  so 
long  as  there  is  not  involved  anything  that 
might  be  construed  as  telling  on  some  other 
boy — "snitching"  he  will  probably  call  it.    He 


Foreword  xvii 

will  talk  frankly  of  his  own  habits  and  will 
sometimes  surprise  you  by  the  intimate  dis- 
closures he  will  make. 

Boys  are  thoroughgoing  idealists.  You  are 
sure  to  find  some  of  them  who,  from  a  discus- 
sion of  the  vital  problems  of  boyhood,  will  come 
to  feel  themselves  responsible  for  sweeping 
reforms  among  their  fellows.  This  idealism, 
properly  conserved  and  directed,  may  be  made 
a  factor  of  great  value.  Psychologists  urge 
the  importance  of  expression  as  a  sequence  of 
all  good  impressions.  This  is  of  first  impor- 
tance where  we  are  dealing  with  concrete  prob- 
lems of  daily  conduct.  So  much  of  our  reli- 
gious and  moral  instruction  spends  itself  in  a 
momentary  glow  and  does  not  translate  itself 
into  conduct,  that  it  is  of  utmost  importance 
that  we  strive  to  secure  expression  of  what  may 
otherwise  end  with  the  emotion  aroused  and 
leave  the  boy  no  better,  perhaps  worse  off, 
than  before.  It  is  difficult  to  estimate  to  what 
extent  these  impressions  find  expression,  and 
one  may  easily  hope  for  a  more  vigorous  or 
speedy  response  than  seems  to  come.    It  has 


xviii  Foreword 

been  gratifying  to  observe,  during  the  three 
years  since  the  Discussion  Club  has  been  in 
existence,  a  steady  improvement  in  the  moral 
tone  of  the  school  in  such  matters  as  involve 
honesty  in  the  relations  of  pupils  with  each 
other  and  with  their  teachers,  respect  for  prop- 
erty rights,  good  sportsmanship,  clean  speech, 
which  may  be  fairly  traced  in  no  small  degree  to 
the  discussion  of  these  topics.  Tangible  results 
may  be  seen  in  a  written  agreement  entered  into 
by  a  considerable  number  of  boys  not  to  tell 
"smutty"  stories  nor  willingly  to  listen  to  such 
stories  from  others,  an  agreement  which  the 
writer  did  not  suggest  and  of  which  he  had  no 
knowledge  until  after  it  had  been  made. 

There  are  two  factors  of  prime  importance 
in  the  successful  conduct  of  such  a  club  or  class 
— the  leader  and  the  material.  The  leader  must 
be  a  boys'  man,  able  to  understand  and  appreci- 
ate the  point  of  view  of  the  boy,  genuinely 
interested  both  in  his  sports  and  in  his  more 
serious  activities,  ready  to  spend  time  in  think- 
ing about  the  problems  of  boyhood  and  in 
actual  contact  with  boys,  desiring  above  all 


Foreword  xix 

else  that  the  boy  may  form  right  ideals  and 
transmute  these  into  habits  of  right  conduct. 
He  must  not  be  overeager  to  force  his  own 
mature  ideas  upon  the  boy,  but  must  be  willing 
to  lead  him  to  form  his  own  ideas  under  tact- 
ful guidance. 

The  material  should  seem  to  the  boy  of  direct 
and  vital  importance  to  him  as  a  boy.  It  should 
not  take  the  form  of  rules  of  conduct,  but  should 
lead  him  to  form  such  rules  for  himself.  It 
must  deal  largely  with  concrete  experiences 
taken  from  his  own  life.  Much  of  it  then  will 
be  local,  drawn  from  his  own  school  or  com- 
munity life.  It  will  frequently  be  quite  per- 
sonal. To  be  most  effective,  it  will  sometimes 
be  necessary  to  break  away  from  an  orderly 
sequence  of  topics  in  order  to  take  advantage  of 
some  particular  event  or  situation  which  could 
not  be  foreseen.  Timeliness  will  then  be  an 
important  consideration  in  the  choice  or  order 
of  material.  It  will  cover,  in  the  course  of  a 
year,  all  the  issues  that  have  to  do  with  a  boy's 
immediate  relation  to  his  fellows,  to  those  in 
authority  over  him  in  school,  in  his  home,  in 


XX  Foreword 

his  community  and  state;  it  will  deal  with  his 
relations  to  the  various  social  and  philanthropic 
agencies  with  which  he  may  now  or  later  have 
to  do;  it  will  include  discussions  of  the  various 
trades  and  professions  to  some  one  of  which  he 
will  wish  to  devote  his  life  successfully;  and 
through  it  all  there  should  run  a  fine  religious 
spirit,  not  dragged  in  forcibly,  but  natural 
and  sincere,  which  should  culminate  in  a  dis- 
cussion of  a  boy's  relation  to  God  and  the  organ- 
ized agencies  of  religion. 

The  material  presented  in  the  twenty-two 
studies  which  follow  has  been  worked  out  with  a 
group  of  high-school  boys  and  has  been  found 
effective  in  the  manner  above  described. 
Whatever  value  it  may  have  is  largely  due  to  the 
fact  that  it  thus  comes  fresh  from  actual  expe- 
rience. It  should  be  understood  that  it  is 
intended,  not  as  a  complete  and  finished  dis- 
cussion of  the  various  topics,  but  as  a  suggestive 
outline  to  be  filled  out  by  class  discussion.  It 
is  hoped  that  it  will  not  seem  for  this  reason 
scrappy  and  incomplete.  The  purpose  is  not 
to  state  conclusions,  but  to  suggest  discussions 


Foreword  xxi 

from  which  valuable  conclusions  may  be  drawn. 
If  in  some  lessons  there  is  no  reference  whatever 
to  the  Bible,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  it 
does  not  purport  to  be  primarily  for  Bible- 
study.  Wherever  the  Bible  furnishes  material 
directly  applicable  to  the  subject  under  dis- 
cussion, it  is  employed;  no  attempt  has  been 
made  to  introduce  it  at  any  other  point. 

The  subjects  of  most  of  the  studies  are  so 
vitally  related  to  the  actual  life  experiences  of 
boys  that  the  class  discussions  may  be  carried 
on  successfully  without  much  study  on  the  part 
of  the  boys.  They  will  of  course  be  more 
valuable  if  the  boys  can  be  induced  to  give 
thought  and  study  to  them  in  advance.  The 
keeping  of  a  notebook  by  the  members  of  the 
class  will  be  found  helpful.  The  topics  sug- 
gested for  further  study  may  be  given  out  to 
individuals  in  advance;  sometimes  it  may  be 
better  to  assign  these  for  special  consideration 
at  the  next  meeting,  when  the  class  will  have 
a  better  understanding  of  their  significance. 
Many  other  topics  will  occur  to  the  teacher, 
having  special  relation  to  the  characteristics  of 


xxii  Foreword 

his  boys  or  to  the  conditions  peculiar  to  the 
school,  or  club,  or  to  the  community  in  which 
they  live.  It  may  be  found  that  some  of  the 
studies  cannot  satisfactorily  be  completed  at 
one  meeting;  others  may  be  omitted  entirely. 
The  teacher  may  find  it  advantageous  to  call 
in  expert  assistance,  especially  in  the  studies 
of  vocational  topics,  when  some  representative 
of  the  profession  under  consideration  may 
make  the  discussion  more  effective. 

No  bibliography  has  been  prepared  to  accom- 
pany the  studies.  The  topics  discussed  are  not 
bookish.  The  teacher  will  find  his  knowledge 
of  biography  of  extreme  value  and  may  well 
lead  his  boys  to  read  the  lives  of  great  men 
to  some  of  whom  reference  will  be  found  in  the 
studies.  The  teacher  who  uses  the  book  in  the 
Sunday  school  will  make  frequent  references  to 
the  lives  of  Jesus,  Paul,  and  other  vigorous 
characters  of  the  Bible.  All  the  material  in 
the  studies  will  be  found  in  accordance  with  the 
spirit  of  the  teachings  and  life  of  Jesus  and  will 
be  found  most  effective  only  as  it  is  used  in  the 
spirit  of  the  Great  Teacher. 


A  FOREWORD  TO  THE  BOY 

Life,  as  it  stretches  out  before  you,  offers  a 
glorious  field  for  struggle  and  adventure.  Are 
you  going  to  win  out  ?  No  one  can  tell  you  just 
how  to  do  it.  The  studies  in  this  little  book 
have  been  worked  out  with  boys  whose  prob- 
lems are  like  yours.  A  careful  study  of  them 
will  help  you  to  lay  your  plans  for  success. 
They  are  planned  for  discussion  in  boys'  clubs 
and  classes  under  the  direction  of  a  leader. 
We  will  assume  that  your  leader  is  a  man  who 
knows  and  likes  boys  and  that  the  boys  like 
him.  He  knows  some  things  which  you  do 
not;  but  do  not  let  him,  for  this  reason,  do 
your  thinking  for  you.  You  know  some  things 
which  he  does  not;  perhaps  he  never  knew 
them  or  has  merely  forgotten  them.  From  the 
discussion  of  these  vital  problems  together  you 
will  help  each  other.  Out  of  these  discussions, 
you  should  develop  principles  for  action  in  your 
own  lives.  These  will  be  of  small  value  to  you 
unless  you  put  them  to  immediate  practice  in 


xxiv  Foreword 

the  work  and  play  of  your  present  life  as  a  boy. 
Life  for  you  is  not  a  thing  of  the  future,  but 
you  are  already  in  the  midst  of  it.  You  will 
not  find  it  much  different  ten  or  twenty  years 
hence,  but  what  you  are  doing  then  will  depend 
largely  upon  what  you  are  making  out  of  life 
now.  An  English  poet,  Henry  Newbolt,  has 
caught  the  spirit  of  boyhood  in  the  following 
verses  which  he  calls  "Vital  Lampada,"  the 
Torch  of  Life.  The  setting  is  more  familiar 
to  English  boys,  but  its  appeal  will  be  felt 
by  boys  the  world  over. 

VITAI  LAMPADA 

There*s  a  breathless  hush  in  the  Close  tonight: 

Ten  to  make  and  the  match  to  win — 
A  bumping  pitch  and  a  blinding  light, 

An  hour  to  play  and  the  last  man  in. 
And  it's  not  for  the  sake  of  a  ribboned  coat, 

Or  the  selfish  hope  of  a  season's  fame, 
But  his  captain's  hand  on  his  shoulder  smote: 

"Play  up!  play  up!  and  play  the  game!" 

The  sand  of  the  desert  is  sodden  red, 

Red  with  the  wreck  of  a  square  that  broke: 

The  gatling's  jammed  and  the  colonel  dead, 
And  the  regiment  blind  with  dust  and  smoke. 


Foreword  xxv 

The  river  of  death  has  brimmed  his  banks, 
And  England's  far,  and  Honour  a  name. 

But  the  voice  of  a  schoolboy  rallies  the  ranks: 
"Play  up!  play  up!  and  play  the  game!" 

This  is  the  word  that  year  by  year, 

While  in  her  place  the  school  is  set. 
Every  one  of  her  sons  must  hear. 

And  none  that  hears  it  dare  forget. 
This  they  all  with  a  joyful  mind 

Bear  through  life  like  a  torch  in  flame, 
And  falling  fling  to  the  host  behind: 

"Play  up!  play  up!  and  play  the  game!" 


STUDY  I 
TWO  VIEWS  OF  BOYHOOD 

There  are  two  views  of  boyhood.  The  one 
most  commonly  held  and  that  about  which  the 
boy  hears  most  from  his  elders  is  that  it  is  a 
period  of  preparation.  All  its  various  activities 
are  viewed  from  the  standpoint  of  their  value 
as  preparation  for  the  life  which  he  is  to  live 
as  a  man.  In  most  respects  this  seems  to  be 
a  wholesome  attitude.  How  does  it  appeal  to 
you? 

It  will  be  worth  while  to  apply  this  view  in 
some  specific  cases. 

There  are  many  boys'  schools  which  are 
called  "preparatory  schools."  In  what  sense  is 
the  term  "preparatory"  thus  used?  Does  the 
high  school  in  your  community  prepare  boys 
for  such  a  trade  as  carpentry?  for  farming? 
How  would  you  justify  the  study  of  Latin  or 
of  history  as  preparation  for  life  ? 

What  is  the  value  of  athletics  as  preparation  ? 
Would  not  working  in  the  garden  be  as  valuable 


v^iJ        Problems    of   Boyhood 

exercise  as  football?  Of  what  value  is  the 
game  to  the  boy  in  the  "bleachers'*?  Is 
ability  to  play  athletic  games  of  value  to  a 
man?  What  schoolboy  games  are  adapted 
to  mature  manhood?  What  suggestion  does 
this  offer  as  to  the  relative  value  of  different 
athletic  games? 

What  does  the  home  contribute  to  the  boy's 
preparation  for  life  ?  the  Sunday  school  ? 

There  are  many  harmful  agencies  which  have 
to  do  with  the  preparation  of  a  boy  for  manhood. 
Mention  some  of  these  which  are  found  among 
the  boys  in  your  community. 

The  other  view  of  boyhood  is  that  it  is  not 
merely  preparation  for  life,  but  life  itself. 
From  this  standpoint  the  activities  of  boy  life 
have  real  value  in  themselves  and  make 
demands  upon  his  physical,  intellectual,  and 
moral  forces  similar  to  those  which  he  will 
encounter  in  mature  life.  Honorable  success 
in  the  work  and  play  of  boyhood  has  real  and 
present  satisfaction,  valuable  in  itself;  failure 
brings  a  corresponding  sense  of  present  loss. 
To  the  boy  himself  this  sense  of  present  value 


Two   Views   of   Boyhood  3 

is  probably  a  more  powerful  factor  in  determin- 
ing his  conduct  than  any  consideration  of  the 
remote  future  consequences.  For  example, 
the  high-school  athlete  gives  up  smoking  during 
the  football  season  in  order  that  he  may  be  in 
better  condition  for  the  games,  but  he  is  not 
deterred  from  resuming  the  habit  after  the  last 
game  by  fear  that  his  physical  strength  may 
suffer  any  permanent  loss. 

From  the  standpoint  of  present  satisfaction, 
what  would  cause  you  to  choose  between  lying 
and  telling  the  truth  ?  to  train  for  the  football 
eleven?  to  prepare  your  mathematics  assign- 
ment for  tomorrow  ? 
(      In   many   cases   these    two   considerations, 
preparation  for  the  future,  and  present  satis- 
/f action,  are  at  the  same  time  influential  in 
Idetermining  a  boy's  conduct.     Mention  some 
situation  in  which  this  is  the  case.     But  this 
does  not  always  seem  to  hold;  give  an  illustra- 
tion.   Is  the  relative  value  of  these  appeals  the 
same  with  every  boy  in  a  given  case  ?    Which 
seems  to  have  most  to  do  with  your  conduct 
from  day  to  day? 


4  Problems   of   Boyhood 

Not  long  ago  preachers  were  accustomed  to 
appeal  to  their  hearers  on  the  basis  of  the  future 
consequences  of  their  acts.  When  our  fathers 
were  boys,  they  were  urged  to  be  good  in  order 
that  after  they  had  died  they  might  enjoy 
heaven  or  escape  hell.  Preachers  now  have 
much  less  to  say  about  the  hereafter,  and  are 
telling  us  how  we  may  secure  happiness  now  in 
the  service  of  those  about  us.  With  this  new 
emphasis,  boyhood  takes  on  new  value.  So 
long  as  the  boy  thinks  of  his  life  merely  as 
preparation  for  manhood^s  tasks,  he  is  often 
willing  to  let  things  go  and  take  a  chance  of 
supplying  what  is  lacking  later  on.  But  if 
the  boy  can  see  that  today^s  work  and  play 
present  occasions  for  the  exercise  of  a  boy's 
judgment,  the  testing  of  a  boy's  character,  the 
outlay  of  a  boy's  strength,  just  as  important 
and  as  difficult  for  him  now  as  those  which  will 
come  to  him  in  his  mature  manhood,  life  will 
take  on  for  him  more  meaning  and  zest.  By 
no  means  should  you  think  less  of  the  impor- 
tance of  preparing  yourself  for  manhood's  tasks 
by  the  proper  training  of  your  body,  mind,  and 


Two   Views   of   Boyhood  5 

character,  but  you  should  also  see  that  your 
daily  activities  have  real  value  for  you  and 
that  you  should  be  able  to  justify  your  con- 
duct on  the  ground  of  the  present  satisfaction 
that  it  brings  you. 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

The  value  of  athletic  games  from  the  point  of  view 
of  their  value  for  the  present  and  the  future.  Under 
what  circumstances  may  they  be  harmful  ? 

The  agricultural  or  manual-training  course  in  the 
high  school  versus  the  classical  course. 

The  value  of  different  kinds  of  reading,  e.g.,  the  news- 
paper and  magazine,  entertaining  novels,  biography, 
history. 


STUDY  II 
SOME  ELEMENTAL  PROBLEMS 
At  about  the  age  of  fourteen  begins  the 
period  in  a  boy^s  life  known  as  adolescence* 
This  period  is  marked  by  certain  physiological 
changes  in  his  body  which  are  accompanied 
by  other  great  and  important  changes  in  his 
habits  of  thought  and  of  conduct.  It  is  the 
period  of  rapid  physical  growth,  often  accom- 
panied by  a  feeling  of  awkwardness  and  diffi- 
dence. He  begins  to  think  for  himself  and 
to  question  the  authority  of  his  parents  and 
others  whose  control  he  has  up  to  this  time 
accepted  naturally.  He  often  feels  himself 
misunderstood  and  sometimes  abused.  Boys 
at  this  period  crave  freedom  and  adventure 
and  to  secure  it  often  break  away  from  the 
restraints  of  school  or  home.  It  is  the  age  of 
truancy  from  school,  of  "running  away''  from 
home.  It  is  a  period  of  the  most  violent  change 
which  takes  place  in  his  entire  life.  He  has 
been  a  child  but  is  one  no  longer;  he  is  not  yet 

6 


Some  Elemental  Problems   7 

a  man  but  is  rapidly  becoming  one.  He  is 
like  one  adrift  in  a  boat  broken  loose  from 
its  moorings,  driven  violently  by  wind  and 
wave,  with  the  pilot  overboard.  He  must 
ride  out  the  storm  and  learn  to  steer  for 
himself.  It  is  a  time  of  great  peril  but  of 
glorious  possibihties. 

As  illustrations,  think  of  the  large  number  of 
boys  who  leave  school  at  fourteen  to  go  to 
work;  the  rapid  falling-off  of  the  attendance  at 
Sunday  school  at  this  age;  the  formation  of 
gangs  to  play  Indian  or  pirate,  sometimes  for 
vicious  or  criminal  practices.  Consider  also 
the  comparative  advantages  of  the  city  and 
coimtry  for  boys  at  this  period. 

Boyhood  is  the  period  when  life-habits  are 
formed.  The  problem  of  boyhood  is  one  of 
adjustment  in  passing  from  control  by  others  to 
control  of  one's  self.  Every  boy  will  make  the 
transition  better  if  he  realizes  what  some  of 
the  specific  problems  are.  These  will  be  made 
the  subjects  of  later  studies  and  will  then  be 
treated  in  detail.  Let  us  briefly  sketch  some 
of  the  more  important  here. 


8  Problems    of   Boyhood 

THE  PROBLEM  OF  KEEPING  CLEAN 

1.  In  body. — ^The  changes  which  take  place 
in  the  boy^s  body  at  this  time  are  most  impor- 
tant and  fundamental.  These  are  not  alarming 
in  themselves,  but  quite  natural.  The  boy  is 
sure  to  receive  suggestions  from  associates  of 
his  own  age  or  from  ignorant  or  vicious  older 
persons,  which  are  full  of  peril.  His  physical 
and  moral  health  depends  upon  his  resisting 
temptations  to  defile  his  body.  Let  him  re- 
member that  if  properly  controlled  and  directed, 
his  sexual  powers  are  a  treasure  of  great  strength 
in  his  life;  misdirected  they  may  become  a 
source  of  infinite  peril  and  disaster. 

2.  In  mind. — ^The  mind  is  like  the  sensitive 
plate  of  the  photographer.  In  boyhood  it  is 
extremely  sensitive  to  improper  suggestions. 
Let  him  realize  that,  while  he  will  not  be  able 
to  keep  his  mind  free  from  thoughts  that 
he  knows  are  improper,  he  can  keep  from 
dwelling  on  these  thoughts.  If  he  is  to  be 
a  self-controlled  man,  of  clean  life,  he  must 
fight  out  for  himself  this  control  of  his  inmost 
thoughts. 


Some  Elemental  Problems   9 

3.  In  speech. — The  boy  who  keeps  his  mmd 
clean  will  be  clean  of  speech.  "Out  of  the 
abundance  of  the  heart,  the  mouth  speaketh." 
"Smutty"  talk  is  very  common  among  boys 
and  is  most  pernicious  in  its  results.  The 
self-respecting  boy  will  not  defile  himself  in 
this  way. 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

The  importance  of  selecting  clean  companions. 
The  value  and  danger  of  athletics  in  relation  to  clean 
living. 

THE  PROBLEM  OF   KEEPING   " SQUARE" 

In  business  and  politics  there  are  frequent 
disclosures  of  dishonesty  or  "graft."  The  boy 
is  sure  to  find  himself  confronted  with  sugges- 
tions, either  from  within  or  from  without,  to 
indulge  in  dishonest  practices.  In  school  life 
there  is  much  petty  evasion  as  well  as  down- 
right dishonesty  in  athletics  and  in  the  routine 
of  school  life.  In  the  home  life  there  is  abun- 
dant opportunity  for  dishonesty.  In  the  case 
of  boys  in  the  ofi&ce  or  the  shop  there  are  many 
chances  for  dishonesty.    The  boy,  whether  in 


lo  Problems    of   Boyhood 

the  school,  the  home,  or  the  shop,  is  sure  to 
see  those  who  are  not  "on  the  square."  It  is 
easy  thoughtlessly  to  fall  into  the  ways  of  others. 
No  boy  should  allow  himself  to  fall  into  dis- 
honest practices  through  imitation.  The  man 
of  whom  it  can  be  said  "his  word  is  as  good  as 
his  bond''  is  sure  to  be  in  demand.  The  boy 
who  is  always  "on  the  square"  has  the  respect 
of  others  and  of  himself. 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

Different  standards  of  honesty  in  dealing  with  one's 
fellows  and  with  teacher  or  employer. 
The  code  of  honor  between  rival  schools. 


STUDY  III 

CUSTOM 

Custom  is  responsible  for  much  of  our  con- 
duct. In  different  communities  and  countries, 
the  styles  of  clothing,  types  of  houses,  articles 
of  food  and  method  of  their  preparation,  educa- 
tion, rehgion,  games,  and  social  customs  differ 
widely.  The  native  dress  and  manners  of  the 
Oriental  seem  strange  to  the  American  boy; 
ours  seem  no  less  so  to  the  Chinese  boy.  A 
short  time  often  marks  great  changes  in  custom. 
A  photograph  or  magazine  illustration  of  a  few- 
years  ago  shows  people  in  clothing  that  looks 
ridiculous,  though  at  the  time  it  was  the  pre- 
vailing style.  Who  decides  whether  we  shall 
wear  our  trousers  turned  up  this  season  or 
whether  our  vests  shall  be  cut  high  or  low? 
What  are  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  re- 
sulting from  uniformity  in  styles  of  clothing? 
Why  should  these  change  from  year  to  year  ? 

In  religion  and  politics  most  people  follow  the 
custom  of  those  with  whom  they  are  intimately 
zz 


12  Problems   of   Boyhood 

associated.  In  England  most  people  are  Prot- 
estants; in  Italy,  Roman  Catholics.  Most 
Methodists  are  reared  in  Methodist  families, 
Congregationalists  in  Congregational  families, 
etc.  Why  is  this?  The  son  is  likely  to 
ally  himself  with  his  father's  political  party. 
In  the  South,  most  white  men  vote  the 
Democratic  ticket.  There  is  of  late  a  marked 
tendency,  particularly  among  young  men,  to 
break  away  from  these  restraints  of  custom 
in  politics.  What  cause  can  be  assigned 
for  this?  Is  this  tendency  advantageous  to 
society  ? 

There  are  many  customs  that  have  grown  up 
in  social  life  to  which  most  people  conform,  e.g., 
the  use  of  the  knife  and  fork  in  eating,  the 
removal  of  the  hat  by  men  in  the  house  or  when 
saluting  a  woman  or  another  man  to  whom  it 
is  desired  to  show  respect.  Certain  forms  of 
expression  are  customary  in  letter-writing,  such 
as  "Dear  Sir,"  and  "Yours  very  truly,"  or 
some  similar  form  at  the  close.  Some  business 
houses  are  doing  away  with  these  expressions 
in  their  correspondence. 


Custom  13 

As  far  as  these  social  customs  are  an  expres- 
sion of  genuine  courtesy,  they  tend  to  make  the 
ordinary  intercourse  of  life  more  agreeable  and 
are  to  be  valued  highly.  No  one,  however, 
should  make  the  mistake  of  thinking  that  these 
can  take  the  place  of  real  nobiUty  of  character. 
An  immoral  man  may  possess  all  the  external 
graces  commonly  spoken  of  as  "good  manners." 
May  a  man  of  good  character  have  "bad 
manners"?  Should  one  ever  violate  social 
custom?  If  so,  under  what  circumstances, 
and  why? 

Customs  often  develop  in  a  community  or 
group  like  a  school  or  club  which  exert  a  strong 
influence  upon  its  members.  These  often  per- 
sist through  years  and  are  then  spoken  of  as 
traditions.  These  may  be  either  good  or  bad, 
and  often  in  themselves  may  be  neither.  Some- 
times in  school  or  college,  certain  colors  or 
articles  of  clothing  are  required  of  one  class, 
while  others  are  forbidden.  One  of  the  Yale 
fences  may  be  sat  upon  only  by  Seniors.  Some 
high  schools  observe  "  rough-neck  day."  What 
is  the  basis  of  these  customs  ?    Have  you  any 


14  Problems    of    Boyhood 

such  in  your  school?  What  purpose  do  they 
serve  ?  In  some  schools  a  low  or  medium  grade 
is  regarded  as  a  "gentleman's  grade,"  with  the 
result  that  good  scholarship  becomes  socially 
unpopular.  Some  schools  have  traditions  of 
good  sportmanship  so  strong  and  high  that  no 
one  would  think  of  taking  an  unfair  advantage 
of  an  opponent.  What  good  traditions  and 
what  bad  ones  have  you  in  your  school  ?  What 
should  be  your  attitude  toward  these?  Are 
you  under  any  obligation  to  help  continue  a 
bad  custom,  however  long  it  may  have  been 
carried  out? 

In  the  life  of  Jesus,  we  find  valuable  sugges- 
tions for  our  own  conduct.  Such  customs  as 
were  good  he  followed.  For  example,  read 
Luke  4:16:  "As  his  custom  was,  he  went  into 
the  synagogue  on  the  Sabbath  day."  Evil 
customs  he  sternly  rebuked.  Read  the  story 
of  his  treatment  of  the  money  changers  and 
sellers  of  animals  for  sacrifice  in  the  temple 
(John  2 :  14-16).  Why  was  this  custom  wrong  ? 
How  did  Jesus'  teaching  about  the  observance 
of  the  Sabbath  differ  from  the  custom  of  his 


Custom  15 

times?  Read  Matt.  12:1-13.  Discuss  the 
question  of  Sunday  conduct  in  the  Hght  of 
Jesus'  teaching  and  conduct. 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

Sabbath  observance  in  Continental  Europe  and 
New  England.  Sunday  baseball  and  golf.  Sunday 
travel. 

Peculiar  customs  of  the  Orient. 

Custom  as  a  hindrance  to  progress. 


STUDY  IV 

HABIT 
Habit  is  an  even  more  important  factor  than 
custom  in  determining  our  actions.  If  every 
morning  we  had  to  give  conscious  attention  to 
the  buttoning  of  our  clothing  and  to  the  other 
details  connected  with  dressing,  to  our  steps  as 
we  walk  downstairs,  to  the  movements  involved 
in  eating,  and  so  on  through  the  day  to  every 
one  of  the  thousands  of  separate  actions  which 
we  perform,  life  would  be  a  dreary  and  endless 
routine  of  petty  acts.  Happily  we  are  so  con- 
stituted that  an  act  frequently  repeated  per- 
forms itself  without  our  conscious  direction. 
We  learn  from  psychology  that  impressions 
received  through  any  of  our  sense  organs  are 
transmitted  to  the  brain  through  one  set  of 
nerves  and  through  another  set  of  nerves  the 
brain  sends  back  directions  for  the  appropriate 
act.  For  example,  the  child  places  his  finger  on 
a  hot  stove,  the  sensation  of  pain  is  transmitted 
to  the  brain,  the  order  is  hurried  back  to  the 

i6 


Habit  17 

muscles  of  the  arm,  and  the  hand  is  removed. 
All  our  conscious  acts  originate  in  this  way. 
But  after  an  act  has  been  many  times  repeated, 
the  currents  to  and  from  the  brain  seem  to  have 
worn  channels  through  which  they  tend  to 
flow,  and  the  action  follows  the  sensation  with- 
out any  conscious  act  of  the  will.  Thus,  when 
we  get  up  in  the  morning  we  go  through  the 
many  movements  involved  in  dressing  in  order, 
without  paying  any  attention  to  them.  Some 
of  our  most  common  habits  are  very  compli- 
cated. Discuss  the  various  elements  involved 
in  walking,  in  playing  the  piano,  in  batting  a 
ball  or  catching  a  fly  in  the  outfield. 

We  can  easily  see  that  habit  plays  a  very 
important  part  in  saving  time  and  energy, 
which  we  should  otherwise  devote  to  a  dull 
and  monotonous  routine,  for  more  interesting 
and  important  uses.  Professor  James  says 
that  ninety-nine  hundredths  or  possibly  nine 
hundred  and  ninety-nine  thousandths  of  our 
activity  is  purely  automatic  and  habitual. 
Our  success,  then,  depends  very  largely  on  the 
habits  which  we  form. 


i8  Problems    of    Boyhood 

Youth  is  pre-eminently  the  time  when  habits 
are  formed.  When  we  speak  of  habits  we 
usually  employ  the  term  in  a  moral  sense  and 
have  in  mind  bad  habits,  e.g.,  the  smoking-habit 
or  the  drinking-habit.  But  there  are  also  good 
habits,  e.g.,  the  habit  of  truth- telling,  of  abstain- 
ing from  drinking  or  smoking.  Both  good  and 
bad  habits  are  formed  in  the  same  way.  It  is 
important  that  we  form,  as  early  in  life  as 
possible,  as  many  useful  habits  as  we  can.  Pro- 
fessor James  gives  four  excellent  maxims  for 
forming  habits: 

I.  ^^ Launch  yourself  with  as  strong  and  de- 
cided an  initiative  as  possible. ^^  This  might 
take  different  forms  in  different  cases,  e.g., 
telling  one's  chum  or  club  that  you  are  going  to 
form  a  certain  good  habit  or  give  up  some  bad 
habit.  Professor  James  cites  the  case  of  a 
man  who  offered  through  a  newspaper  advertise- 
ment a  reward  to  anyone  who  should  find  him 
in  a  certain  saloon  to  which  he  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  go.  How  would  this  help  the  man 
to  break  the  drinking-habit  ?  What  would  be 
the  advantage  of  taking  a  public  pledge  ? 


Habit  19 

2.  ^^  Never  suffer  an  exception  to  occur  till  the 
new  habit  is  securely  rooted  in  your  lifeJ^  Pro- 
fessor Bain  says:  "The  peculiarity  of  the  moral 
habits  is  the  presence  of  two  hostile  powers, 
one  to  be  gradually  raised  into  the  ascendant 
over  the  other.  It  is  necessary  above  all  things, 
in  such  a  situation,  never  to  lose  a  battle." 

3.  ^^  Seize  the  very  first  possible  opportunity 
to  act  on  every  resolution  you  make  and  on  every 
emotional  prompting  you  may  experience  in  the 
direction  of  the  habits  you  aspire  to  gain. ' '  When 
you  have  decided  that  you  will  form  a  good 
habit  or  break  a  bad  one,  don't  put  off  action, 
but  begin  at  once.  "Hell  is  paved  with  good 
intentions." 

4.  ^^Keep  the  faculty  of  effort  alive  in  you  by  a 
little  gratuitous  exercise  every  day.^^  "That  is, 
be  systematically  heroic  in  little  unnecessary 
points,  do  every  day  or  two  something  for  no 
other  reason  than  its  difficulty,  so  that  when 
the  hour  of  dire  need  draws  nigh,  it  may  find 
you  not  imnerved  and  untrained  to  stand  the 
test."  I  recall  hearing  a  famous  university 
football  coach  tell  a  group  of  high-school  boys 


20  Problems   of   Boyhood 

that  he  made  it  a  practice  occasionally  to  give 
up  drinking  coffee  of  which  he  was  fond,  not 
because  he  thought  it  harmful  but  that  he 
might  have  this  valuable  practice  in  self-denial. 
In  what  other  ways  might  you  apply  this  in 
your  own  case  ? 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

What  are  some  of  the  bad  habits  to  which  the  boys 
of  your  town  or  school  are  addicted  ? 

What  are  some  of  the  habits  which  you  could  acquire 
to  advantage  ? 

The  teacher  and  members  of  the  class  will  find  the 
chapter  on  "Habit"  in  James's  Psychology  or  on  "The 
Laws  of  Habit"  in  his  Talks  to  Teachers  both  interesting 
and  valuable  reading. 


STUDY  V 

HONESTY 
Honesty  is  the  foundation  upon  which  the 
stabiUty  of  our  society  rests.  The  business  of 
the  world  is  chiefly  done  on  a  basis  of  credit  and 
depends  upon  the  fidelity  with  which  contracts 
are  met,  often  calling  for  the  pa)nnent  of  money 
many  days  or  months  after  the  goods  are  de- 
livered. Men  deposit  their  money  in  banks 
with  full  confidence  that  they  will  receive  it 
with  interest  whenever  they  desire.  Billions  of 
dollars  are  invested  in  stocks  and  in  bonds  of 
raikoad  or  industrial  corporations  by  persons 
who  have  never  seen  the  men  to  whom  they 
have  intrusted  their  money.  The  United  States 
Steel  Corporation  has  issued  $1,300,000,000  of 
stocks  and  bonds  which  are  owned  by  upward  of 
300,000  people  in  every  part  of  the  world  in 
amounts  varying  from  less  than  one  hundred  to 
millions  of  dollars.  Only  in  this  way  can  large 
business  enterprises  be  carried  on.  There  are 
many  safeguards  provided  by  law  to  secure  the 


22  Problems    of   Boyhood 

rightful  use  of  money  thus  invested  and  to  pro- 
tect the  investor  against  loss.  In  spite  of  these, 
losses  are  often  incurred.  Are  such  losses 
always  due  to  dishonesty? 

Nations  enter  into  agreements  with  each 
other  through  treaties.  Are  these  agreements 
always  kept  ?  What  would  be  the  efifect  upon 
the  armies  and  navies  of  the  world  if  it  were 
certain  that  international  agreements  would  be 
fulfilled?  Diplomats  represent  their  govern- 
ments in  the  different  capitals  of  the  world. 
It  was  formerly  supposed  that  an  important 
part  of  a  diplomat's  business  was  to  deceive 
the  government  to  which  he  was  sent.  What 
improvement  has  taken  place  in  the  relation  of 
nations  with  each  other?  Discuss  the  inter- 
national court  at  The  Hague. 

In  what  ways  do  the  affairs  of  our  daily  lives 
depend  upon  our  confidence  in  each  other? 
Discuss  from  this  standpoint  the  grocer  and  his 
customer,  the  physician  and  his  patient,  the 
lawyer  and  his  client,  the  employer  and  the 
workman.  What  is  accompUshed  by  the  pure 
food  laws  ? 


Honesty  23 

It  has  repeatedly  been  said  the  American 
aim  is  "first  to  get  on,  then  to  get  honor,  and 
lastly  to  get  honest."  Do  you  think  this  is 
true?  There  is  a  common  saying  that  "hon- 
esty is  the  best  policy."  Is  this  the  only  reason 
or  the  highest  reason  for  being  honest  ? 

TRUTHFULNESS 

As  honesty  is  such  an  important  factor  in  the 
relations  of  individuals  and  groups  of  individuals 
with  each  other,  the  habit  of  honesty  is  one 
of  the  most  important  to  acquire.  The  most 
common  form  of  honesty  has  to  do  with  our 
speech.  It  is  necessary  for  us  to  decide  first 
what  constitutes  telling  the  truth  and  telling  a 
lie.  Has  a  person  who  makes  a  statement  which 
is  untrue  but  which  he  believes  to  be  true  told 
a  He  ?  Can  a  person  tell  a  part  of  the  truth  in 
such  a  way  as  to  leave  a  false  impression  on  the 
hearer  ?  Has  he  told  a  lie  even  though  he  has 
said  nothing  untrue?  Give  an  illustration. 
Can  a  person,  by  exaggeration  or  otherwise,  say 
what  is  untrue  without  deceiving  his  hearer? 
Has  he  told  a  lie  ?    Give  an  illustration.    Can 


34  Problems   of   Boyhood 

one  tell  a  lie  without  speaking  at  all?  How? 
What,  then,  is  the  essential  element  of  a  lie? 
Is  there  such  a  thing  as  a  "white"  lie? 

Habits  of  untruthfulness  are  most  likely  to 
be  formed  in  what  seem  to  be  small  matters. 
In  school,  pupils  often  give  evasive  or  false 
excuses  for  tardiness,  failure  to  prepare  lessons, 
or  other  similar  faults,  without  thinking  that 
they  are  thus  forming  habits  which  will  cling 
to  them  through  life.  It  is  sometimes  regarded 
as  a  thing  to  be  boasted  over  that  they  have 
thus  deceived  the  teacher.  Can  you  justify 
different  standards  of  honesty  in  deaHng  with  a 
teacher  and  with  your  chmn?  What  do  you 
think  of  a  teacher  or  parent  who  tries  to  "bluff" 
you?  Does  this  justify  dishonesty  on  your 
part  ?  Is  a  lie  ever  justifiable  ?  If  you  think 
so,  give  an  illustration. 

When  the  telling  of  the  truth  may  involve 
others  in  difficulty,  a  puzzling  situation  is  often 
presented.  A  case  which  was  presented  in  the 
Outlook  recently  gave  rise  to  much  discussion 
and  difference  of  opinion.  "Good  and  Bad 
are  two  boys  attending  the  same  school.     One 


Honesty  25 

day  Bad  said  to  Good,  *I  am  going  to  throw  a 
snowball  through  the  window.'  Good  made  no 
reply.  Bad  threw  the  snowball  and  broke  the 
window,  and  Gk)od  saw  him  do  it.  The  next 
morning  at  school  the  teacher  asked  the  pupils 
singly  and  privately  the  question,  ^Do  you  know 
who  broke  the  window  ? '  and  '  Who  broke  the 
window?'  What  should  Good  say  when  the 
teacher  asked  him,  *Do  you  know  who  broke  the 
window?'  What  should  Good  say  when  she 
asked  him,  *  Who  broke  the  window  ?'  Should 
the  teacher  have  asked  the  boys  these  questions  ? 
Should  the  teacher  have  the  same  right  as  the 
court  in  compelling  Good  to  tell?"  Was  Good 
in  any  degree  responsible  for  the  broken  win- 
dow? Does  the  character  of  the  offense  in- 
volved make  any  difference  in  your  opinion  as 
to  whether  one  boy  should  ever  tell  on  another  ? 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

How  can  you  best  develop  the  habit  of  truthfulness 
for  yourself  ? 

What  can  you  do  to  improve  the  standards  of  truth- 
fulness among  your  associates? 

Should  a  nurse  or  physician  always  tell  a  patient 
the  truth  about  his  condition? 


26  Problems    of   Boyhood 

cheating 

Closely  allied  to  truthfulness  in  speech  is 
honesty  in  dealing  with  others  in  work  and 
sports.  This  may  be  seen  in  the  relation  of  a 
workman  to  his  employer,  of  the  pupil  to  his 
teacher,  of  one  contestant  or  athletic  team  to 
another. 

It  is  all  too  common  in  these  relations  for  one 
to  be  honest  only  when  under  observation.  A 
boy  takes  the  job  of  distributing  handbills 
about  town  and  throws  half  of  them  into  the 
river.  Give  some  other  illustration.  If  you 
are  an  employed  boy,  do  you  work  as  hard  when 
your  employer  or  overseer  is  absent?  Is  the 
boy  who  never  intends  to  earn  more  than  his 
wages  likely  to  secure  promotion  ?  Is  the  con- 
fidence of  your  employer  valuable  to  you? 
How  can  you  secure  and  keep  this  ? 

In  many  schools  and  colleges  students  fre- 
quently use  dishonest  methods  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  work  and  in  classroom  and  examination. 
There  is  sometimes  real  ignorance  as  to  what  is 
dishonest  in  the  preparation  of  work.  Is  the 
use  of  a  "pony"  in  preparing  a  Latin  lesson 


Honesty  27 

dishonest?  Can  one  ever  honestly  present  as 
his  work  what  he  has  not  done  for  himself? 
There  is  httle  likelihood  of  ignorance  regarding 
what  constitutes  dishonesty  in  class  or  examina- 
tion. Is  the  person  who  gives  information  in  an 
examination  equally  culpable  with  the  one  who 
receives  it  ?  If  a  teacher  is  careless  or  has  physi- 
cal defects  which  make  it  difficult  for  him  to  de- 
tect dishonesty,  is  dishonesty  more  excusable  ? 
What  different  persons  may  be  injured  by  a 
student's  dishonesty  in  examination?  How 
is  each  injured?  Who  receives  the  greatest 
injury  ? 

Many  colleges  conduct  examinations  on  an 
honor  system  in  which  students  take  the 
examinations  without  the  supervision  of  in- 
structors, signing  at  the  close  a  statement  that 
they  have  neither  received  nor  given  help. 
What  are  the  advantages  and  disadvantages 
of  this  plan?  How  do  you  think  this  would 
work  in  your  high  school? 

Athletic  contests  offer  a  fertile  field  for  dis- 
honest practices.  The  intense  desire  to  win 
sometimes  leads  to  the  recruiting  of  athletes 


28  Problems    of    Boyhood 

in  ways  that  violate  the  spirit  and  even  the 
letter  of  the  requirements  for  amateur  standing. 
Can  there  be  any  justification  whatever  for 
the  manager  or  captain  who  does  this?  Can 
an  honest  boy  play  on  a  team  on  which  he 
knows  there  is  an  ineUgible  player?  Can 
pupils  respect  a  teacher  who  knowingly  allows 
such  a  thing  to  occur  in  his  school  ?  Ought  a 
school  to  be  expected  to  cheer  for  such  a  team  ? 
Dishonesty  in  athletics  often  consists  in 
evading  rules  of  the  game.  Coaches  some- 
times teach  players  how  to  break  the  rules  with- 
out detection.  Is  it  dishonest  to  beat  the  pistol 
at  the  start  of  the  race  if  you  can  do  it  success- 
fully? Discuss  "dirty"  football  from  the 
standpoint  of  winning  the  game;  from  the 
standpoint  of  good  morals.  In  a  baseball 
game,  the  batter  hits  a  ball  to  deep  left  field 
and,  seeing  that  the  umpire  is  watching  the 
ball,  cuts  first  base  and  reaches  second  suc- 
cessfully. Discuss  the  ethics  involved.  Of 
what  value  are  successful  athletic  teams  to  a 
school?  Is  dishonestly  secured  victory  valu- 
able or  harmful  ?    Does  it  make  any  difference 


Honesty  29 

whether  the  dishonesty  is  detected  by  the 
opposing  school  ? 

A  well-known  school  had  won  a  big  track  meet 
in  which  many  schools  had  competed.  They 
had  reached  home  with  the  trophy  of  victory 
when  it  was  discovered  that  one  of  the  boys 
representing  the  school  had  been  ineligible. 
This  was  not  known  and  was  not  likely  to 
become  known  outside  the  school.  But  the 
trophy  was  returned  at  once  with  a  statement 
of  facts  and  was  awarded  to  the  team  which 
had  taken  second  place.  That  school  has 
a  right  to  be  more  proud  of  that  trophy  which 
it  might  have  retained  than  of  any  of  the  many 
which  adorn  its  trophy  room.  It  is  a  trophy 
of  the  honesty  of  the  school.  Has  your  school 
a  tradition  for  clean  and  honest  sport  ?  If  not, 
what  can  you  do  to  secure  this  ? 

One  of  the  most  common  forms  of  deceit  is 
self-deceit.  One  may  sometimes  satisfy  himself 
that  an  act  of  dishonesty  is  honest.  In  some 
schools,  pledges  are  required  that  one  is  not  and 
will  not  become  a  member  of  a  fraternity.  Boys 
break  this  on  the  ground  that  a  forced  pledge  is 


30  Problems   of   Boyhood 

not  binding.  Is  this  so  ?  Members  of  frater- 
nities, when  asked  if  they  are  members,  some- 
times say  that  they  are  not,  on  the  ground 
that  one  may  resign  and  resume  membership 
at  will,  and  that  this  resignation  may  be  per- 
formed mentally.  This  is,  of  course,  only 
self-deception,  utterly  unworthy  of  an  honor- 
able boy.  Give  some  other  illustrations  of  self- 
deception.  Shakespeare  placed  these  words  in 
the  mouth  of  Polonius: 

To  thine  own  self  be  true 

And  it  must  follow  as  the  night  the  day 

Thou  canst  not  then  be  false  to  any  man. 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

Is  winning  the  game  the  most  important  end  in 
athletics?    If  not,  what  is? 

The  effect  of  "ringers"  upon  the  athletic  success 
of  a  school;  upon  the  moral  tone  of  a  school. 

If  it  is  a  good  thing  for  a  boy  to  take  part  in  athletic 
games,  why  should  rules  of  eligibility  exclude  Fresh- 
men from  athletic  teams  ? 


STUDY  VI 
PROPERTY  RIGHTS 

Regard  for  the  rights  of  property  is  an  ac- 
quired habit.  Among  animals  generally  the 
stronger  takes  from  the  weaker.  The  child 
naturally  takes  whatever  comes  to  hand,  until 
taught  not  to  do  so.  Doubtless  primitive 
man  did  not  differ  from  the  other  animals  in 
this  respect.  But  society,  through  custom  and 
law,  has  undertaken  to  safeguard  the  owner- 
ship of  property,  so  that  the  weak  as  well  as  the 
strong  may  feel  that  his  property  is  secure. 

We  know  very  well,  however,  that  nations 
and  individuals  have  often  violated  these  laws. 
Nations  have  taken  by  force  the  property  of 
other  nations  or  inferior  peoples.  Discuss  the 
ethics  of  the  treatment  which  our  nation  has 
accorded  the  Indians;  the  treatment  of  the 
Aztecs  by  the  Spaniards  under  Cortez.  Is 
sufficient  justification  found  in  the  fact  that 
a  higher  civilization  has  followed  the  conquest 
of  inferior  peoples  ?    In  what  respects  has  our 

31 


32  Problems    of   Boyhood 

possession  of  the  Philippines  differed  from  these 
two  instances  ? 

Each  morning's  paper  tells  of  defaulting 
bank  cashiers,  grafting  public  officers,  or  petty 
thieves  brought  before  courts  of  law.  It  is 
plain  that  the  habit  of  honesty  as  regards  prop- 
erty must  be  firmly  estabHshed  to  enable  us  to 
stand  strongly  against  the  temptations  that 
confront  us  in  the  complex  life  of  business  and 
politics.  It  is  probable  that  most  dishonest 
persons  are  not  detected  in  the  first  offense  but 
have  formed  habits  of  dishonesty,  often  with 
small  beginnings  the  real  nature  of  which  was 
not  at  the  time  appreciated.  Boys  in  school, 
as  treasurers  of  classes  or  other  organizations, 
are  sometimes  careless  in  handling  funds.  A 
manager  of  an  athletic  team  makes  personal  use 
of  money  in  his  hands,  intending  to  replace 
it  later.  At  the  end  of  the  season,  he  finds  it 
inconvenient  to  do  this,  and  rather  than 
acknowledge  the  fact,  he  conceals  his  fault  by 
making  a  false  accounting.  Compare  his  case 
with  that  of  the  cashier  who  uses  funds  of 
his  bank  for  personal  investment,  intending  to 


Property   Rights  33 

replace  them  later.  In  what  respect  do  the 
ethics  involved  differ  whether  he  restores  the 
funds  or  not  ? 

People  frequently  have  different  standards  in 
dealing  with  the  property  of  individuals  and 
with  that  of  corporations  or  of  the  public  at 
large.  Slugs  are  frequently  found  in  the  cash 
boxes  of  public  telephones.  Men  deliberately 
evade  the  payment  of  fares  in  crowded  cars. 
Railroads  charge  no  fare  for  infants  and  half- 
fare  for  children  below  a  certain  age.  Parents 
often  thus  secure  rates  for  children  above  the 
specified  ages.  Does  it  make  any  difference 
whether  the  ticket-seller  or  conductor  inquires 
the  child's  age  ?  Is  one  under  less  obligation  to 
pay  the  required  fare  to  a  railroad  than  to  pay 
his  grocer's  bill  ? 

Pupils  are  likely  to  use  the  books  or  other 
articles  provided  by  the  school  less  carefully 
than  they  would  if  they  were  their  own.  Often 
there  is  wanton  destruction  of  school  or  other 
public  property  in  the  celebration  of  victories. 
Can  you  justify  this  ?  Does  the  fact  that  many 
are  involved  furnish  any  justification  ? 


34  Problems    of   Boyhood 

Merchants  sometimes  employ  short  weights  or 
measures.  A  clerk  often  knowingly  conceals  de- 
fects in  goods  from  purchasers.  What  should  an 
honest  boy  do  if  his  employer  expects  him  to  do 
this  ?  Should  the  fear  or  certainty  that  he  will 
lose  his  job  if  he  refuses  make  any  difference  ? 

In  school  the  term  "swiping"  is  frequently 
applied  to  acts  which  elsewhere  would  be  called 
"stealing."  Articles  of  clothing,  athletic  ma- 
terial, books,  etc.,  are  often  taken  by  those  who 
know  that  they  do  not  belong  to  them.  School 
lockers  are  sometimes  forcibly  entered  and 
articles  are  taken  from  them. 

Members  of  athletic  teams  frequently  col- 
lect "souvenirs"  from  dining-cars,  hotels,  and 
schools  visited,  and  schoolboys'  rooms  often 
include  such  spoils  among  their  decorations. 
Can  any  other  term  than  "stealing"  properly 
be  applied  to  such  acts?  Someone  has  said 
of  students  that  "nothing  is  absolutely  safe 
that  is  not  nailed  down."  What  do  you  think 
of  this  statement  ? 

In  the  famous  Rugby  School  in  England  there 
are  no  lockers  in  the  gymnasium  and  each  boy's 


Property   Rights  35 

equipment  is  hung  on  a  peg.  In  the  cricket 
clubhouse  the  valuable  togs  for  playing  the 
game  are  placed  in  a  leather  bag,  unlocked  but 
marked  with  the  owner's  initials,  and  arranged 
on  long  tables  in  an  open  room.  It  is  evident 
that  the  knowledge  that  an  article  belongs  to 
another  boy  is  sufficient  to  assure  its  safety. 
Would  your  football  togs  be  safe  if  similarly 
placed  in  your  school  gymnasium?  If  not, 
how  do  you  account  for  the  difference  between 
your  school  and  Rugby  ?  What  do  you  think 
would  improve  the  condition?  Do  you  think 
that  boys  in  school  are  as  honest  as  their  fathers 
in  business  ? 

Probably  boys  fall  into  this  practice  thought- 
lessly. But  habits  are  formed  from  what  often 
appear  small  beginnings.  What  are  some  of 
the  possible  results  which  might  come  from 
the  practice  of  "swiping"?  Would  it  not  be 
most  desirable  to  secure  in  your  school  such 
a  clearly  defined  code  of  honor  that  no  one 
would  think,  under  any  circumstances,  of  taking 
what  he  knew  was  not  his  own?  What  can 
you  do  to  estabhsh  such  a  tradition  ? 


36  Problems   of   Boyhood 

topics  for  discussion 

Which  is  the  more  dangerous  to  society,  the  petty 
thief  or  the  big  grafter?  Which  is  the  more  likely 
to  be  convicted  when  placed  on  trial  ? 

The  impeachment  of  Governor  Sulzer  of  New 
York. 

Who  owns  the  flowers  in  the  park  and  the  equip- 
ment of  the  pubUc  school  ? 


STUDY  VII 
GAMBLING  AND  BETTING 

The  choice  of  goal  in  a  football  game  is 
decided  by  the  toss  of  a  coin.  How  does  this 
differ  from  matching  pennies  to  decide  who 
shall  pay  for  the  ice  cream  sodas  ?  Show  how 
in  athletic  games  any  advantage  that  comes  to 
the  winner  of  the  toss  is  equalized  as  the  con- 
test proceeds.  It  is  evident  that  chance  is  an 
essential  element  of  gambling  but  that  chance 
enters  into  many  situations  in  life  which  do  not 
involve  gambling  at  all. 

When  you  buy  a  pair  of  shoes  or  a  baseball 
and  bat,  you  expect  that  the  merchant  will 
give  you  a  fair  return  for  your  money,  charging 
you  a  reasonable  profit  above  what  the  goods 
cost  him.  In  legitimate  business  both  the 
buyer  and  the  seller  render  an  equivalent  for 
value  received.  Compare  with  this  the  cases 
of  the  loser  and  winner  in  a  game  of  cards 
played  for  money  or  in  a  wager  over  the  result 
of  a  football  game.    Has  the  winner  at  cards 

37 


38  Problems   of   Boyhood 

or  of  a  bet  given  to  the  loser  any  equivalent 
for  the  money  which  he  wins  ?  What  then  are 
the  two  essential  elements  of  gambling  ? 

Experience  seems  to  show  that  chance  adds 
zest  to  almost  any  situation  in  life.  It  is 
because  of  this  apparently  natural  instinct  that 
gambling  makes  its  appeal.  Boys  are  sure  to 
be  confronted  with  apparently  harmless  situa- 
tions that  involve  the  principle  of  gambHng. 
The  makmg  of  wagers  of  candy,  matching 
coins  for  sodas,  etc.,  are  familiar  occurrences. 
In  pitching  pennies  or  playing  marbles  "for 
keeps,"  does  the  fact  that  the  winner  has  greater 
skill  have  anything  to  do  with  deciding  whether 
there  is  gambling  involved?  In  most  pool- 
rooms the  loser  pays  for  the  game.  Is  this 
gambling?  What  equivalent  has  the  loser 
received  more  than  the  winner  that  he  should 
pay  for  ?  If  the  winner  has  more  skill,  should 
the  loser  pay  him  for  this?  Can  you  justify 
this  on  the  basis  of  good  sportsmanship  ?  Dis- 
cuss prizes  at  card  parties  from  this  standpoint. 
Do  you  think  of  any  other  common  practices 
in  which  the  principle  of  gambling  is  involved  ? 


Gambling   and   Betting         39 

Since  the  element  of  chance  is  naturally 
interesting  and  so  many  opportunities  abound 
for  falling  into  forms  of  petty  gambling  which 
may  easily  lead  to  confirmed  habits,  we  should 
consider  why  gambling  is  wrong  in  itself  and  the 
habit  one  to  be  avoided.  In  the  first  place  the 
practice  of  receiving  something  for  which  one 
does  not  give  a  fair  return  destroys  one's  sense 
of  the  value  of  money  and  of  the  labor  by  which 
real  value  is  produced.  Jenks  says:  "The 
gambling  habit  is  opposed  to  thrift,  and  no 
commimity  can  prosper  whose  members  are 
not  thrifty."  The  habit  of  gambling  once 
acquired  is  likely  to  take  so  much  of  a  man's 
time  and  thought  that  he  neglects  his  legiti- 
mate occupation  with  the  almost  certain  loss 
of  his  earnings.  Dickens  in  The  Old  Curiosity 
Shop  has  given  in  the  grandfather  of  Little  Nell 
a  most  pathetic  illustration  of  the  depths  to 
which  the  gambling  habit  may  reduce  a  man. 

There  are  many  who  declare  that  their 
gambling  is  done  wholly  among  friends  and 
that  the  stakes  never  represent  more  than  a 
fair  return  for  the  pleasure  obtained.    But  the 


40  Problems    of   Boyhood 

habit  once  established,  it  is  difficult  to  limit 
the  amount  of  money  one  will  devote  to  it  or 
to  confine  it  to  one's  friends.  Playing  with 
professional  gamblers  soon  follows  where  the 
chances  are  certain  to  be  in  favor  of  the  house 
or  gambler,  even  though  the  game  may  be 
honestly  played.  Ruin  is  almost  sure  to  follow. 
The  records  of  Monte  Carlo,  if  faithfully  pre- 
served, would  show  many  suicides  of  those  who 
have  been  made  desperate  by  their  losses. 

Gambling  is  freely  permitted  in  many  coun- 
tries in  Europe,  and  is  openly  shared  in  by 
nobility  and  people.  What  do  you  know  about 
the  Derby?  Monte  Carlo?  In  this  country 
there  has  been  developing  rapidly  a  strong 
public  opinion  against  gambling  as  being  op- 
posed to  the  common  good,  and  it  has  been 
gradually  restricted  or  prohibited  by  law.  The 
Louisiana  lottery  flourished  until  a  few  years 
ago,  when  it  was  denied  the  privilege  of  the 
mails  and  was  forced  to  cease  its  operations. 
Race-track  gambling  has  been  prevented  by  law 
in  New  York  and  in  other  states.  GambHng 
in  any  form  is  forbidden  by  law  in  many  states 


Gambling   and   Betting         41 

and  cities.  What  are  the  laws  regarding 
gambling  in  your  state  and  town?  Are  they 
enforced  ? 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

The  buying  and  selling  of  stocks  "on  margin"  on 
the  stock  exchange.  The  slot  machine  in  the  cigar 
store.  Guessing  contests  at  fairs  or  bazaars.  Betting 
on  interschool  games. 


STUDY  VIII 
SPEECH:  SLANG  AND  PROFANITY 

Our  home  training,  our  education,  our  char- 
acter are  constantly  being  reflected  by  our 
speech.  Men's  judgment  of  us  is  more  likely 
to  be  based  upon  how  we  speak  and  what  we 
say  than  upon  anything  else.  Such  judgment 
may  sometimes  be  wrong,  but  it  is  generally 
correct.  A  man's  speech  usually  betrays  his 
inner  life.  What  he  thinks  determines  what  he 
is,  and  what  he  thinks  determines  what  he 
says.  "Out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart," 
said  Jesus,  "the  mouth  speaketh."  Think 
of  the  people  you  know  best  and  see  if  this  is  not 
so  in  their  cases. 

The  characteristics  of  speech  include  not 
only  the  words  used,  but  the  tone  of  the  voice 
and  the  inflection  given  to  the  spoken  words. 
These  are  first  acquired  by  imitation  and  early 
become  fixed  habits.  Members  of  the  same 
family  often  show  marked  similarities  of  tone 
and  manner  of  speech.  Certain  differences  of 
42 


Speech:  Slang  and  Profanity  43 

pronunciation  of  the  vowels  mark  the  person 
bom  in  New  England,  in  the  South,  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  country,  so  that  one  may  tell 
pretty  accurately  from  another's  speech  in  what 
region  he  has  lived.  Certain  words  and  phrases 
mark  certain  localities.  The  New  Englander 
"guesses,"  the  Southerner  "reckons."  Give 
some  other  illustrations. 

What  is  the  value  of  an  agreeable  voice? 
Think  of  the  teachers  you  have  had,  the 
preachers  and  other  public  speakers  you  have 
listened  to.  Has  the  quaUty  of  their  voices 
had  anything  to  do  with  their  effect  upon  you  ? 
You  must  have  known  some  boy  who  was  a 
bully  among  his  fellows.  Did  his  voice  and 
manner  of  speech  give  any  clue  to  his  character  ? 
Apply  the  same  test  to  any  brutal  or  vulgar 
person  whom  you  have  seen. 

What  are  the  quahties  of  voice  and  manner 
of  speech  that  seem  to  you  most  attractive 
and  effective  in  others?  Are  not  these  worth 
your  striving  hard  to  secure?  If  you  have 
already  fallen  into  other  habits  it  is  not  an 
easy  task.    How  will  you  go  about  it  ? 


44  Problems    of   Boyhood 

However  desirable  a  pleasing  voice  and 
manner  of  speech  may  be,  these  are  of  far  less 
importance  than  the  words  spoken.  If  one 
has  thoughts  worth  expressing  they  are  most 
effective  when  expressed  in  clear,  direct  speech. 
A  vocabulary  large  enough  to  express  careful 
distinctions  in  thought  is  necessary  and  should 
be  used  with  discrimination.  Discuss  the  train- 
ing in  EngUsh  which  you  have  received  in  school, 
with  special  reference  to  the  value  of  composi- 
tion and  extemporaneous  speaking.  One  ought 
constantly  to  be  enlarging  the  stock  of  words 
which  he  can  use.  One  of  the  axioms  which  we 
laid  down  when  we  were  studying  habit  will 
help  us  greatly.  Use  the  word  you  wish  to  add 
to  your  vocabulary  at  the  earhest  opportu- 
nity and  find  several  occasions  to  use  it.  It 
will  then  become  a  permanent  acquisition. 

The  habit  of  using  slang  is  very  common. 
Where  does  slang  originate  ?  Does  it  serve  any 
useful  purpose?  Would  a  newspaper  accoimt 
of  a  baseball  game  be  as  interesting  and  effect- 
ive if  written  without  slang?  It  might  be  a 
valuable  exercise  to  translate  such  a  "story" 


Speech:  Slang  and  Profanity  45 

into  the  sort  of  English  that  your  teacher  in 
the  high  school  would  approve.  Some  slang 
expressions  may  seem  to  be  more  expressive 
and  picturesque  in  a  particular  case  than  any 
other  words.  The  chief  objection  to  slang  is 
that  it  is  usually  made  to  serve  too  wide  a  use 
and  to  take  the  place  of  more  carefully  selected 
words.  At  the  present  time  such  inane  expres- 
sions as  "I  should  worry"  and  "I  should  say" 
are  heard  on  every  hand,  and  indicate  either 
that  the  speaker  has  not  thoughts  to  express  or 
has  fallen  into  a  most  unfortunate  habit  of 
concealing  such  thoughts  as  he  has. 

Whatever  defense  may  be  offered  for  the  use 
of  slang  there  is  absolutely  no  excuse  for  pro- 
fanity. Among  the  Ten  Commandments  we 
find,  "  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord 
thy  God  in  vain,  for  the  Lord  will  not  hold  him 
guiltless  who  taketh  his  name  in  vain."  Was 
profanity  wrong  before  the  Ten  Command- 
ments were  written  ?  Would  it  be  wrong  now 
if  the  commandment  had  never  been  written  ? 
The  real  essense  of  profanity  is  irreverence. 
Why  is  irreverence  sinful  ?    Read  the  teaching 


46  Problems   of   Boyhood 

of  Jesus  on  this  in  Matt.  5:33-37.  What  did 
he  mean  when  he  said,  "But  let  your  communi- 
cation be  yea,  yea;  nay,  nay;  for  whatsoever 
is  more  than  these  cometh  of  evil"  ? 

Swearing  is  a  habit  easily  acquired  and  not 
easily  broken.  The  habitual  swearer  does  not 
think  of  the  meaning  of  his  words,  but  uses  them 
to  give  emphasis  to  his  speech.  In  this  respect 
swearing  is  like  slang,  showing  lack  of  discrimi- 
nation in  the  use  of  language.  Is  swearing 
less  wicked  because  used  without  thought  of  the 
real  meaning  of  the  words?  Boys  are  not 
likely  to  swear  in  the  presence  of  their  mothers 
or  others  for  whom  they  have  respect.  What 
does  this  show  ? 

What  kind  of  people  are  most  addicted  to 
profanity  ?  In  what  places  are  you  most  likely 
to  hear  it?  Why  is  profanity  so  frequent  in 
connection  with  athletics  ?  There  is  probably 
more  swearing  in  football  than  in  connection 
with  any  other  game.  Why  ?  Football  coaches 
often  swear  at  a  player  who  makes  a  misplay, 
and  "cursing  up"  a  team  between  halves  is 
a  frequent  practice  and  is  supposed  to  put 


Speech:  Slang  and  Profanity  47 


''pep"  into  a  team.  Many  schools  would  not 
tolerate  such  a  thing,  and  a  coach  would  send 
from  the  field  a  player  who  was  profane.  Would 
such  a  team  be  less  likely  to  win  ?  Would  you 
rather  play  on  such  a  team  ? 

You  may  know  of  some  strong  and  able  man 
who  uses  profanity.  Is  this  characteristic  of 
such  men?  Does  it  add  to  their  strength  or 
is  it  a  hindrance  to  them  ? 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

How  and  why  do  boys  acquire  the  habit  of  profanity  ? 
Apply  James's  maxims  to  the  breaking  of  this  habit. 
The  use  of  slang  by  teachers. 


STUDY  IX 
CLEAN  THINKING  AND  SPEAKING 
We  have  said  in  an  earlier  study  that  the 
mind  is  like  the  sensitive  plate  of  the  photog- 
rapher. If  you  will  consider,  you  will  see  that 
this  plate  is  much  more  sensitive  to  some  im- 
pressions than  to  others.  It  probably  took  a 
good  many  exposures  to  fix  permanently  in 
your  mind  the  multiplication  tables  or  the  in- 
flection of  a  Latin  verb.  Other  impressions 
you  will  find  there,  still  vivid,  from  a  single 
exposure.  I  recall  vividly  the  words  of  a 
"smutty"  song  which  I  heard  when  a  boy, 
which  I  have  never  repeated  in  speech,  but 
which  I  can  never  forget.  Many  things  which 
I  once  learned  laboriously  and  which  I  would 
gladly  remember,  I  cannot  recall.  We  cannot 
always  avoid  hearing  improper  speech,  nor 
keep  from  having  improper  thoughts.  We  can 
avoid  seeking  and  dwelling  upon  them.  Ex- 
amine your  own  mind  and  see  whether  you  enjoy 
thinking  of  these  things. 
48 


Clean  Thinking  and  Speaking    49 

A  self-controlled  man  has  control  of  his 
thoughts  as  well  as  of  his  words  and  other 
outward  acts.  Two  helps  may  be  suggested. 
First,  avoid  whatever  suggests  impure  thoughts. 
What  are  some  of  these?  Second,  keep  your 
mind  busy  with  wholesome  things.  Athletic 
games  are  of  great  value  because  they  give 
boys  so  much  to  think  and  talk  about.  What 
else  do  you  think  of  that  serves  the  same 
purpose?  Perhaps  you  have  discovered  that 
it  is  more  difficult  to  control  your  thoughts  at 
certain  times  or  in  certain  places.  The  condi- 
tion of  your  body  has  much  to  do  with  this. 
If  you  take  plenty  of  exercise,  do  not  overeat, 
sleep  with  your  window  open,  get  up  when  you 
first  wake  and  take  a  bath,  a  cold  one  preferably, 
you  will  find  it  easy  to  keep  your  body  strong 
and  your  mind  clean.  You  will  find  these 
matters  fully  and  helpfully  treated  in  From 
Youth  to  Manhood,  by  Dr.  Winfield  S.  Hall, 
published  by  the  Y.M.C.A.  Press,  New  York. 

As  we  have  seen,  clean  speech  follows  clean 
thought.  While  it  may  be  that  a  person  of  un- 
clean thoughts  may  not  always  give  expression 


50  Problems    of   Boyhood 

to  these  thoughts,  a  person  whose  inner  life  is 
clean  will  not  use  unclean  speech.  "Smutty" 
story-telling  and  other  forms  of  vulgar  speech 
are  very  common  among  boys,  and  it  is  easy 
to  fall  into  the  habit  without  realizing  how 
demoralizing  are  its  effects.  The  gymnasium 
locker-rooms,  school  corridors,  fraternity  houses, 
poolrooms,  and  other  places  where  boys  gather 
by  themselves  offer  frequent  opportunity  for 
such  talk.  In  what  places  and  under  what  cir- 
cumstances have  you  heard  or  used  such  lan- 
guage? Boys  sometimes  think  it  is  a  sign  of 
smartness  or  manliness  to  use  vulgar  language. 
This  is  more  likely  to  be  the  case  if  the  captain 
of  the  team  or  some  other  prominent  boy  has 
this  habit.  Discuss  the  responsibihty  which 
this  places  upon  the  captain. 

If  you  have  made  up  your  mind  that  unclean 
speech  is  wrong,  what  can  and  ought  you  to  do 
about  it?  You  can  and  must  keep  your  own 
speech  clean.  The  habit  of  clean  speech  once 
formed  is  a  safeguard  against  much  that  is 
degrading.  But  is  this  enough  ?  What  should 
you  do  when  others  use  "smutty"  language? 


Clean  Thinking  and  Speaking    51 

A  group  of  boys  in  school  drew  up  and  signed 
an  agreement  that  they  would  not  use  vulgar 
language  and  would  not  allow  another  to  use  it 
in  their  presence  without  protest.  The  result 
was  an  immediate  lessening  of  the  amount  of 
"smut"  in  that  school.  Would  such  decision 
and  action  in  your  "bunch"  make  you  unpopu- 
lar ?  If  so,  would  it  not  be  better  for  you  to  get 
out  of  the  "bunch"  ?  A  certain  boy  to  whom 
another  had  made  an  improper  proposal  told 
him  never  to  repeat  it,  and  when  he  did  so, 
promptly  knocked  him  down.  A  well-known 
college  athlete  at  the  close  of  his  last  football 
season  was  given  a  dinner  by  his  friends.  In 
the  course  of  the  dinner  one  of  the  men  told  a 
vile  story,  and  the  guest  of  honor  without  a 
word  walked  out  of  the  room.  These  boys 
valued  their  own  self-respect  more  highly  than 
any  temporary  consideration  of  popularity. 
No  one  with  the  manly  courage  required  to 
administer  such  a  rebuke  as  this  need  fear  being 
called  a  "goody-goody"  or  a  prig.  There  are 
persons  to  whom  an  acquaintance  would  never 
think  of  telling  a  vulgar  story.    This  is  the 


52  Problems   of   Boyhood 

highest    tribute    to    a    man's    character.    Do 
your  friends  tell  vulgar  stories  to  you? 

The  devout  psalmist  offered  this  prayer: 
"Let  the  words  of  my  mouth  and  the  medita- 
tions of  my  heart  be  acceptable  in  thy  sight,  O 
Lord,  my  strength  and  my  redeemer." 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

Which  is  worse,  the  habit  of  profanity  or  of  unclean 
speech  ? 

Where  is  a  boy  most  likely  to  acquire  these  habits 
in  your  school  ? 

The  formation  of  an  "anti-smut"  club  among  the 
boys  of  your  acquaintance. 


STUDY  X 

THE  PROBLEM  OF  SEX 
The  period  of  adolescence  is  marked  by  the 
development  of  the  organs  of  sex.  At  this 
period  the  boy  grows  rapidly,  his  voice  becomes 
deeper,  his  beard  begins  to  grow.  He  is  thus 
taking  on  the  physical  characteristics  of  a  man. 
These  physical  changes  are  accompanied  by 
corresponding  changes  in  his  inner  life.  His 
mind  dwells  strangely  upon  thoughts  of  the 
opposite  sex.  He  begins  to  chafe  at  the  re- 
straints placed  upon  him  at  home  or  in  school. 
He  is  shaken  by  forces  the  source  and  nature  of 
which  he  does  not  understand.  It  is  not  neces- 
sary or  desirable  that  a  boy  should  think  much 
upon  those  changes  taking  place  in  him.  It 
is  not  desirable  that  he  should  worry  about 
them  at  all.  They  are  simply  Nature's  way 
of  turning  a  boy  into  a  man.  It  is,  however, 
important  that  he  should  early  know  the  truth 
about  certain  things  concerning  which  he  is 
naturally  inquisitive  and  about  which  he  is 

53 


54  Problems    of   Boyhood 

almost  certain  otherwise  to  receive  false  or  mis- 
leading information.  Ignorance  here,  as  per- 
haps nowhere  else,  breeds  disaster. 

The  organs  of  sex  are  provided  for  the  pur- 
pose of  reproduction.  In  the  study  of  botany 
or  zoology  you  may  have  become  familiar  with 
this  wonderful  process,  by  which  from  the  union 
of  male  and  female  cells  plants  and  animals  re- 
produce their  kind.  This  is,  perhaps,  the  most 
wonderful  of  all  the  processes  of  nature.  It  is, 
however,  a  subject  about  which  boys  hear  little 
except  in  the  form  of  vulgar  jest.  Do  fathers 
generally  talk  frankly  with  their  sons  about 
this  ?  Where  did  you  get  your  knowledge  of  the 
subject?  Do  you  know  words  which  are  not 
vulgar  in  which  you  can  talk  of  the  organs  of 
sex  and  the  facts  of  reproduction?  Do  you 
think  that  sex  hygiene  should  be  taught  in  the 
schools  ?  If  not,  why,  and  where  should  it  be 
taught  ? 

The  desire  for  reproduction  is  one  of  the 
strongest  forces  in  our  lives.  Man  alone  of  all 
animals  has  polluted  this  natural  instinct. 
This  is  due  in  some  degree  to  the  delay  which 


The   Problem   of   Sex  55 

our  social  customs  have  placed  in  the  way  of 
marriage.  The  power  and  desire  of  repro- 
duction come  long  before  the  boy  has  com- 
pleted his  education  and  is  ready  to  assume 
the  responsibilities  of  married  life.  There  are 
other  reasons  which  cause  late  marriages  or 
even  prevent  marriage  at  all.  Discuss  some 
of  these.  Anything  which  discourages  mar- 
riage at  a  reasonable  age  or  lessens  the  sense 
of  responsibility  which  marriage  involves  tends 
toward  moral  deterioration.  Discuss  the  effect 
of  divorce. 

From  the  earliest  times  of  which  we  know 
there  has  been  prostitution.  Of  late  there  has 
been  much  discussion  of  the  social  evil,  and 
investigations  have  been  made  as  to  its  causes 
and  effects.  It  is  well  known  that  there  are 
thousands  of  women,  mainly  young  girls,  who 
live  in  prostitution.  These  girls  are  mostly 
recruited  from  the  ignorant  classes  and  are 
seldom  led  into  a  life  of  shame  by  their  own  de- 
liberate choice,  but  often  by  deceit  and  not 
infrequently  by  actual  force.  Once  started 
upon  this  life  they  seldom  emerge,  but  continue 


56  Problems    or   Boyhood 

to  pander  to  the  evil  passions  of  men,  cast  out 
by  their  own  sex  and  despised  by  the  men  whose 
lust  they  satisfy,  until  within  a  few  years, 
usually  not  more  than  five  or  six,  they  die  miser- 
ably as  a  result  of  the  diseases  almost  certain  to 
be  contracted  in  this  sort  of  life.  And  their 
places  must  be  filled  by  others,  and  so  the  cease- 
less sacrifice  goes  on. 

A  boy  of  clean  mind  and  manly  spirit  who 
knows  the  truth  will  not  cause  a  girl  to  fall  nor 
share  in  her  degradation  once  she  has  fallen. 
To  do  so  is  essentially  unfair  and  unsportsman- 
like. Seldom  does  a  girl  fall  who  has  not 
yielded  to  the  stronger  force  or  deception  of 
man.  What  would  you  do  to  the  boy  who  had 
wronged  your  sister  ?  The  double  standard  of 
moraHty  required  of  men  and  women  is  also  un- 
sportsmanlike. A  girl  who  has  fallen  becomes 
an  outcast.  You  would  not  marry  such  a  girl. 
Is  it  fair  for  a  man  to  demand  that  his  wife 
be  purer  than  he  is  ?  Is  it  fair  for  society  to 
treat  women  more  severely  than  men  ?  If  not, 
should  the  standard  for  women  be  lowered,  or 
that  for  men  raised  ? 


The   Problem   of    Sex  57 

All  boys  should  expect  to  become  husbands 
and  fathers.  Association  with  loose  women 
is  almost  certain  to  bring  diseases  of  the  most 
loathsome  sort,  sometimes  incurable.  These 
may  be  communicated  to  one's  wife  and  chil- 
dren. In  this  way  much  suffering  is  caused  to 
those  who  are  innocent  of  fault.  From  the 
manly  feeling  of  chivalry  toward  women  as  well 
as  from  consideration  of  fairness  toward  the 
pure  girl  whom  he  will  some  day  ask  to  marry 
him,  and  the  children  whom  they  will  rear,  a 
boy  should  keep  himself  from  sexual  contami- 
nation. 

Many  boys  who  are  not  tempted  to  sexual 
immorality  of  this  sort  are  yet  in  danger  of 
yielding  through  ignorance  or  the  suggestion  of 
vicious  companions  to  the  habit  of  seK-abuse. 
This,  if  persisted  in,  will  lead  to  harmful  results. 
It  is  an  unnatural  practice  in  which  no  boy 
of  clean  mind  and  self-control  will  persist.  If 
continued,  the  practice  tends  to  weaken  a 
boy's  will  and  leads  to  his  moral  and  physi- 
cal degeneracy.  A  good  antidote  for  this  is  to 
keep  the  mind  free  from  evil  by  filling  it  with 


58  Problems   of   Boyhood 

something  else  of  engrossing  interest.  Avoid 
any  place,  picture,  or  whatever  else  gives  evil 
suggestion.  Above  all,  have  nothing  to  do 
with  anyone  who  suggests  sexual  excess  of  any 
sort.  I  know  a  boy  who  promptly  knocked 
down  another  who  made  such  a  suggestion 
to  him. 

Because  the  impulses  and  desires  of  our 
sexual  natures  are  so  strong,  constant  watch- 
fulness and  restraint  are  necessary.  The  fight 
for  clean  living  is  a  hard  one,  calling  for  the  best 
there  is  in  any  boy.  The  penalty  for  defeat 
is  heavy,  but  the  reward  of  victory  is  sure  and 
enduring. 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

The  high  cost  of  living  as  a  hindrance  to  marriage. 
The  relation  between  the  wages  of  women  and  prosti- 
tution. 

The  causes  and  results  of  race  suicide. 
The  commercial  element  of  the  social  evil. 


STUDY  XI 
ALCOHOLIC  LIQUORS  AND  TOBACCO 

The  census  reports  for  1 910  show  that  $1,800- 
000,000  is  annually  spent  for  liquor  in  the 
United  States.  This  is  about  the  same  amount 
that  is  spent  for  food  and  clothing.  If  you  can 
find  the  figures,  compare  this  sum  with  the  cost 
of  education,  the  value  of  the  property  of  our 
colleges  and  universities,  the  value  of  church 
property,  or  make  any  other  comparison  that 
occurs  to  you.  The  average  consumption  of 
liquor  for  every  person  in  the  United  States  is 
about  twenty-three  gallons  a  year. 

We  should  naturally  assume  that  in  a  country 
whose  people  are  intelligent,  any  article  of  food 
or  drink,  consumed  in  such  quantities  and  at 
such  cost,  must  be  beneficial.  What  is  the  fact 
regarding  liquor  ?  Can  you  think  of  any  bene- 
ficial results  from  its  use  ?  How  do  you  account 
for  its  extensive  use  ? 

The  arguments  against  the  use  of  intoxicating, 
liquors  are  manifold  and  convincing.    Its  effect 

59 


6o  Problems   of   Boyhood 

upon  health  and  length  of  life  may  be  com- 
puted accurately.  The  statistics  of  EngHsh 
life  insurance  companies  show  that  the  aver- 
age death-rate  per  thousand  among  total  ab- 
stainers is  9.14  per  cent,  among  drinkers 
26.82  per  cent — almost  three  times  as  great. 
That  the  use  of  liquor  reduces  a  man's  effi- 
ciency is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  the  em- 
ployers of  men  in  industry  and  commerce 
discriminate  against  drinkers  in  favor  of  total 
abstainers.  Discuss  this  with  some  railroad 
official,  manufacturer,  or  other  employer  of 
labor. 

You  will  frequently  hear  the  claim  made  that 
the  revenue  obtained  from  licenses  adds  to  the 
public  funds  and  reduces  taxation,  or  that  the 
liquor  business  makes  business  good  in  other 
lines.  What  can  be  said  against  these  claims  ? 
If  you  can  get  the  statistics  for  any  town  which 
has  voted  out  the  saloon,  compare  the  tax  rate 
before  and  after;  also  compare  the  cost  of  main- 
taining the  pohce  force  and  jails.  Make  any 
other  comparisons  that  seem  to  bear  on  the 
question. 


Alcoholic  Liquors  and  Tobacco    6i 

At  present  there  is  a  nation-wide,  even  a 
world-wide,  movement  against  the  liquor  traffic. 
Many  states  and  large  portions  of  other  states 
prohibit  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  liquors. 
You  will  hear  it  said  that  ^'prohibition  does  not 
prohibit."  What  other  laws  do  you  think  of 
that  do  not  prohibit  the  crimes  against  which 
they  aim?  What  makes  it  more  difficult  to 
prohibit  liquor-selling  than  murder  or  theft? 
What  do  you  think  of  the  argument  that  pre- 
venting the  sale  of  liquor  is  an  infraction  of  a 
man's  "personal  Hberty"?  What  limits  may 
society  place  to  the  liberty  of  one  of  its  mem- 
bers? 

We  have  discussed  the  subject  in  its  general 
aspects,  but,  like  all  other  moral  problems, 
its  final  application  is  a  personal  one.  The 
drinking  habit  is  easily  acquired  and,  once 
acquired,  is  perhaps  the  most  difficult  one  to 
break.  No  one  expects  to  become  a  drunkard. 
Have  you  any  reason  to  think  that  your  will  is 
stronger  than  that  of  others  ?  In  its  beginning, 
drinking  is  almost  always  social.  Our  Ameri- 
can custom  of  treating  is  an  important  factor. 


62  Problems   of   Boyhood 

Contrast  this  with  the  "Dutch  treat,"  and  show 
how  our  custom  leads  to  harmful  results.  A 
group  of  young  men  with  no  serious  purpose  set 
out  to  see  the  sights.  Some  one  of  them  takes 
the  lead  and  the  party  finds  itself  in  a  saloon; 
a  few  drinks  follow,  and  on  they  go  to  some 
worse  resort.  Next  morning  some  of  the  boys 
to  whom  this  was  the  first  experience  of  the  sort 
are  overwhelmed  with  regret.  The  important 
question  then  is.  Are  they  strong  enough  not  to 
repeat  the  experience?  A  boy  shrinks  from 
seeming  to  his  companions  to  be  a  prig.  Should 
one  fear  this  when  it  is  a  question  of  drinking  ? 
Among  men  there  is  no  need  of  hesitation  to 
decline  a  drink.  Discuss  Secretary  of  State 
Bryan's  practice  of  serving  no  liquor  at  state 
dinners  in  his  home.  Does  the  fact  that  the 
foreign  guests  who  sit  at  his  table  are  accus- 
tomed to  drink  at  dinner  place  any  obligation 
upon  him  to  serve  wines  ? 

In  many  cities  there  are  large  numbers  of 
young  men  whose  boarding-places  or  homes  are 
unattractive,  to  whom  the  saloon  affords  an 
opportunity  for  brightness  and  social  pleasure. 


Alcoholic  Liquors  and  Tobacco    63 

What  other  places  are  there  to  which  they 
might  go  and  find  a  welcome  ?  Cities  are  seeing 
the  need  of  providing  at  pubKc  expense  attract- 
ive places  for  healthful  recreation  for  young 
people.  Chicago^s  system  of  small  recreation 
parks  providing  attractive  places  for  reading, 
dancing,  athletic  games,  swimming,  and  other 
forms  of  recreation  is  meeting  an  important 
need  which  is  being  felt  and  which  is  being 
similarly  provided  for  in  other  cities.  What 
might  be  done  to  meet  this  need  in  our  school 
buildings  and  churches  ? 

Little  need  be  said  regarding  the  use  of 
tobacco.  The  amount  of  money  spent  annu- 
ally for  tobacco,  though  less  than  that  for 
liquor,  is  enormous.  Look  up  the  figures. 
That  the  use  of  tobacco  is  harmful  in  youth  is 
a  well-known  fact;  that  it  is  also  injurious  to 
many  mature  men  is  also  certain;  probably 
it  cannot  be  shown  to  benefit  anyone  who  uses 
it.  However,  the  habit  is  very  common,  even 
among  very  estimable  men. 

Smoking  is  an  acquired  habit  against  which 
the  body  usually  rebels  at  first.    How  do  you 


64  Problems   of   Boyhood 

account  for  its  prevalence  among  boys  ?  When 
training  for  the  team  or  for  the  track  boys 
know  that  their  physical  fitness  will  be  greater 
without  tobacco.  Why  do  they  not  give  it 
up  completely  ? 

The  use  of  tobacco  is  a  selfish  habit.  A 
man  often  smokes  in  the  presence  of  those  to 
whom  it  is  objectionable.  Discuss  the  rights 
of  the  motorman  on  the  street  car  to  pure  air 
during  his  working  day,  or  of  the  stenographer 
in  the  office  of  her  employer.  Give  some  other 
illustrations  of  the  selfishness  of  the  smoker. 

It  is  also,  like  drinking,  an  expensive  habit 
for  which  many  men  spend  money  which  is 
needed  for  the  comfort  of  those  dependent  upon 
them.  Compute  the  cost  for  a  period  of  years 
of  the  cigars  of  a  moderate  smoker,  reckoning 
interest  at  the  current  rate. 

What  other  arguments  can  you  make  against 
the  use  of  tobacco  ? 

What  good  reason  can  you  give  to  justify  the 
use  of  tobacco  for  anyone?  You  doubtless 
know  some  men,  whose  opinions  you  respect, 
who  use  tobacco.    Ask  them  to  give  you  some 


Alcoholic  Liquors  and  Tobacco    65 

good  reason  why  they  smoke.  If  they  under- 
take this,  see  if  their  reasons  are  valid.  A  good 
rule  for  a  boy  in  this  matter  is,  wait  until  you 
are  fully  developed  physically,  say,  twenty- 
one  years,  before  using  tobacco.  Then  do  not 
take  it  up  unless  you  can  find  some  reason  that 
will  satisfy  a  self-respecting  man,  even  though 
your  father  and  minister  may  be  addicted  to 
the  habit. 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

The  saloon  and  the  home.  The  relation  of  the  saloon 
to  crime  and  poverty.  Its  relation  to  politics  and 
government.    Its  relation  to  the  social  evil. 

China's  solution  of  the  opiiim  trade. 


STUDY  XII 
COURTESY  AND  RESPECT 
Social  custom  prescribes  certain  forms  of 
courtesy  in  our  dealings  with  each  other,  con- 
formity with  which  is  supposed  to  mark  the 
well-bred  person.  Many  of  these  have  their 
source  in  the  remote  past,  and  we  perform  them 
without  thought  of  their  origin  or  significance. 
These  forms  sometimes  have  been  found  to 
interfere  with  other  more  important  things  and 
have  been  set  aside.  On  one  occasion  when 
Jesus  sent  his  disciples  to  visit  the  cities  to  which 
he  intended  to  go,  he  directed  them  to  "salute 
no  man  by  the  way"  (Luke  10:4).  He  did 
not  intend  by  this  to  teach  them  to  be  discourte- 
ous. The  form  of  salutation  in  the  Orient  was 
so  elaborate  that  the  time  required  for  it  would 
have  prevented  them  from  carrying  out  the 
purpose  of  their  journey.  For  a  long  time  the 
Chinese  would  not  allow  the  building  of  rail- 
roads because  of  respect  for  their  ancestors, 
over  whose  graves  it  would  have  been  necessary 

66 


Courtesy   and   Respect         67 

for  the  roads  to  pass.  The  outward  forms  of 
courtesy  are  constantly  changing.  This  is  not 
to  be  regretted  so  long  as  the  spirit  which 
prompts  them  remains.  Can  you  give  any 
illustration  of  such  change  ? 

Courtesy  has  as  its  basis  respect  for  the  worth 
of  another  person  or  of  one's  self.  The  Chinese 
philosopher  Confucius,  whose  teachings  con- 
tain many  valuable  precepts  regarding  courtesy, 
said,  "A  man  must  first  respect  himself,  then 
others  will  respect  him."  You  may  be  sorry 
for  a  drunken  man,  but  you  do  not  respect  him. 
A  vulgar  or  profane  person  has  not  our  respect. 
Why  is  this  ? 

Custom  has  defined  certain  forms  of  courtesy 
in  the  conduct  of  men  toward  women.  These 
reached  their  height  in  the  courts  of  kings 
at  the  times  of  which  Scott's  novels  give  us 
a  picture.  Cite  some  illustrations.  Are  men 
less  courteous  now  ?  Why  does  a  man  lift  his 
hat  when  meeting  a  lady  ?  Does  a  gentleman 
give  his  seat  to  a  lady  in  a  crowded  car  ?  Does 
it  make  any  difference  whether  she  is  an 
acquaintance?    Discuss  the  rule  of  the  sea — 


68  Problems   of   Boyhood 

"women  firsf — in  the  case  of  the  sinkmg  of 
the  "Titanic.''  Is  the  granting  of  the  suffrage 
to  women  likely  to  make  any  difference  in  these 
forms  of  courtesy  toward  women  ?  If  so,  why 
should  it  ? 

In  all  times  children  have  been  regarded  as 
under  obligation  to  show  respect  to  their  par- 
ents. What  is  the  ground  for  this  ?  We  often 
hear  it  said  that  the  youth  of  today  are  less 
respectful  toward  their  parents  than  in  former 
times.  If  this  is  true,  to  what  may  it  be  due  ? 
"Children  should  be  seen  and  not  heard"  was 
a  familiar  saying  when  your  father  was  a  boy, 
but  is  seldom  heard  now.  What  is  the  effect 
of  the  present  lack  of  formal  restraint  in  the 
home  upon  the  attitude  of  children  toward 
their  parents?  Is  a  boy  likely  to  respect  his 
father  less  if  their  relations  toward  each  other 
become  those  of  chums?  In  many  families 
today  the  boys  have  opportunities  for  better 
education  than  their  parents  had.  Should  this 
lessen  the  respect  which  a  boy  has  for  his  father  ? 

Does  the  position  which  a  teacher  holds  en- 
title him  to  the  respect  of  his  pupil  ?    In  school, 


I 


Courtesy   and   Respect  69 

corporal  punishment  has  been  given  up.  What 
effect  do  you  think  this  has  had  in  the  respect 
which  boys  feel  for  and  show  their  teachers? 
What  qualities  in  a  teacher  increase  your  re- 
spect for  him  ?  What  qualities  detract  from  it  ? 
There  is  in  this  country  much  disrespect  for 
law.  Give  some  illustrations  of  this.  What 
seems  to  be  the  cause  ?  What  bad  results  fol- 
low disregard  for  law?  What  remedies  can 
you  suggest? 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

The  effect  of  uniforms  and  costumes  as  an  aid  to 
respect;  e.g.,  those  worn  by  foreign  diplomats  as  con- 
trasted with  the  black  frock  coat  of  one  of  our  foreign 
representatives. 

The  difference  in  the  attitude  of  all  Englishmen 
toward  their  king,  and  that  of  all  Americans  toward 
the  President. 

The  change  in  the  method  of  dress  of  clergymen  and 
its  effect  upon  the  attitude  of  the  people  toward  them. 


STUDY  XIII 
SELF-CONTROL 

One  who  lives  near  a  harbor  is  accustomed 
to  see  three  kinds  of  craft.  The  scow  has  no 
power  of  self-propulsion  or  self-direction.  It 
is  useful  for  carrying  cargoes,  but  only  within 
short  distances  and  when  towed  by  a  tug.  The 
sailboat  makes  its  way  without  a  tug,  but  its 
power  is  not  within  itself.  Only  when  the  wind 
blows  can  it  move  at  all,  and  its  progress  then 
depends  upon  the  force  and  direction  of  the  wind. 
The  steamer  has  within  itself  the  power  which 
drives  it  over  the  seas  in  any  direction  in  spite 
of  opposing  winds  and  waves.  Three  kinds  of 
people  may  be  compared  with  these  different 
craft.  Describe  each.  Does  the  class  in  which 
a  man  falls  depend  upon  his  occupation  or 
social  position? 

Our  lives  are  made  up  of  a  succession  of 

choices.    On  a  given  morning  a  boy  may  go  to 

school  or  "play  hooky";   when  asked  by  his 

teacher  whether  he  has  committed  a  certain 

70 


Self-Con  TROL  71 

midsemeanor,  he  may  lie  or  tell  the  truth.  In 
the  ordinary  routine,  most  of  our  conduct  is  the 
result  of  habit  or  custom,  but  in  any  given  situa- 
tion we  may,  if  we  choose,  decide  to  act  con- 
trary to  these.  Does  the  knowledge  that  the 
effects  of  alcohol  are  injurious  prevent  a  man 
from  becoming  a  drunkard?  Knowledge  is 
valuable,  so  far  as  conduct  is  concerned,  only 
as  it  forms  a  guide  for  reasonable  choice.  The 
value  of  the  studies  of  various  habits  which  we 
have  made  will  depend  upon  the  choice  which 
we  make  when  we  are  confronted  with  an  oppor- 
tunity to  do  a  right  or  wrong  act. 

The  very  center  of  a  man,  that  which  deter- 
mines his  strength  and  power,  is  his  will.  The 
power  to  exercise  his  will,  to  control  his  conduct, 
we  call  self-control.  Nothing  is  so  essential  to 
success  as  this.  A  strong  body  and  good  health 
are  not  so  essential.  Much  of  the  important 
work  of  the  world  has  been  done  to  an  accom- 
paniment of  pain.  How  does  Robert  Louis 
Stevenson's  life  illustrate  this  ?  Boys  are  often 
ready  with  petty  excuses  for  their  failures. 
Such  boys  are  thus  paving  the  way  to  failure  in 


72  Problems   of   Boyhood 

life.  There  is  no  place  on  the  football  team  for 
the  boy  who  shows  a  "yellow  streak ;''  neither 
is  there  anywhere  else.  Environment  or  cir- 
cumstances are  often  held  responsible  for  a 
man's  failure  or  success.  To  what  extent  is 
failure  or  success  rightly  attributable  to  en- 
vironment or  circumstances?  History  is  full 
of  successful  men  who  have  surmounted  un- 
favorable circumstances.  Give  some  illustra- 
tions. Luck  is  often  assigned  as  a  reason  for 
success.  Do  you  know  of  any  great  success 
which  can  be  attributed  to  this  ? 

The  heights  by  great  men  reached  and  kept 
Were  not  attained  by  sudden  flight, 
But  they,  while  their  companions  slept. 
Were  toiling  upward  in  the  night. 

The  habit  of  self-control,  like  any  specific 
habit,  may  be  acquired.  Refer  to  the  maxims 
on  habit  given  in  Study  IV  and  apply  them  here. 
What  is  the  value  of  athletics  in  forming  the 
habit  of  self-control?  What  game  seems  best 
suited  for  this?  Discuss  the  reasons.  The 
control  of  one's  temper,  of  a  tendency  to  be  lazy, 
or  of  any  bad  habit  to  which  one  knows  himself 


S  E  L  F-C  O  N  T  R  O  L  73 

to  be  addicted,  furnishes  an  excellent  oppor- 
tunity for  practice. 

The  power  of  self-control  is  only  gradually 
acquired  in  youth.  It  is  worth  while  to  stop 
and  think  whether  you  are  gaining  it.  Are 
there  some  things  which  you  once  found  it  hard 
to  do  that  you  now  do  without  thinking  ?  Are 
there  some  things  which  you  knew  to  be  wrong 
and  which  you  once  did,  but  which  you  feel 
no  desire  to  do  now?  If  so,  you  are  making 
progress;  if  not,  take  yourself  strongly  in  hand, 
before  the  lack  of  self-control  becomes  habitual. 
Only  thus  can  you  hope  to  live  a  self-controlled 
and  successful  life. 

Self-control  comes  only  as  a  result  of  practice. 
Discuss  the  relative  value  of  the  two  types  of 
discipline,  that  found  in  military  schools  and 
that  in  vogue  in  schools  giving  pupils  more 
freedom  of  action.  What  is  the  value  of  each 
type  of  discipline?  What  do  you  think  of 
student  "self-government"?  In  Tom  Brown's 
School  Days  the  older  boys  at  Rugby  exercised 
control  over  the  younger.  What  do  you  think 
of  "fagging''  as  practiced  there?    Would  it 


74  Problems    of   Boyhood 

not  be  well  in  every  school  to  develop  in  the 
older  pupils  a  sense  of  responsibility,  not  only 
for  their  own  conduct,  but  also  for  that  of  the 
younger  pupils?  Suggest  some  specific  ways 
in  which  this  might  be  done  in  your  school. 


STUDY  XIV 
CONSERVATION  AND  EFFICIENCY 
The  words  selected  as  a  heading  for  this 
study  are  among  those  most  often  found  in  the 
newspapers  and  magazines  of  the  day.  The 
term  "conservation"  is  generally  used  in  con- 
nection with  the  economical  use  of  such  natural 
resources  as  timber,  coal,  or  soil;  the  term 
"efficiency''  is  generally  applied  to  industry  or 
business  and  involves  the  question  of  securing 
the  largest  return  with  the  least  expenditure 
of  time,  labor,  or  material.  The  need  of  con- 
servation of  the  great  forests  which  once  covered 
the  land,  of  the  immense  bodies  of  coal  and  iron 
under  our  feet,  of  the  rich  soil  which  covered  the 
prairies  of  the  Middle  West,  has  been  realized 
only  when,  through  our  carelessness  or  extrava- 
gance, we  are  face  to  face  with  the  danger  of 
their  complete  exhaustion.  Older  countries 
have  felt  the  importance  of  conservation  of 
natural  resources  for  a  long  time  and  have 
developed  effective  means  to  this  end.    In  the 

75 


76  Problems    of   Boyhood 

well-known  Black  Forest  region  in  Germany, 
one  finds  great  forests  of  trees  varying  in  size 
from  those  that  are  but  a  few  feet  high  to  full- 
grown  trees,  set  in  rows,  carefully  trimmed  and 
cared  for  by  trained  foresters .  The  law  requires 
that  for  all  trees  cut  down  others  shall  be  set  out. 
Only  recently  have  schools  of  forestry  been  es- 
tablished in  this  country  in  which  men  can 
be  trained  to  care  scientifically  for  our  fast- 
disappearing  forests.  Discuss  the  loss  of  for- 
ests through  unnecessary  fires;  the  relation  of 
forests  to  floods. 

Much  of  our  most  fertile  land  has  become 
less  productive  through  our  ignorance  of  sci- 
entific methods  of  farming.  Our  schools  and 
colleges  now  give  instruction  in  agriculture  to 
coimteract  the  waste  which  has  been  wrought. 
By  soil  analysis,  rotation  of  crops,  and  other 
scientific  methods,  these  lands  will  slowly  be 
restored  to  a  part,  at  least,  of  their  former 
fertility. 

The  need  of  conservation  is  not  confined  to 
such  material  things  as  forests  and  lands.  We 
have  been  equally  wasteful  of  human  life  and 


Conservation  and  Effjciency    77 

comfort.  Our  railroads,  factories,  and  mines 
are  operated  at  the  cost  of  thousands  of  lives 
each  year,  most  of  which  might  be  saved. 
Laws  are  being  passed  requiring  railroads  and 
manufacturers  to  provide  increased  protec- 
tion against  accident  and  making  employers 
responsible  for  compensation  for  accidents 
to  employees.  Why  have  employers  tried  to 
prevent  the  passage  of  these  laws?  What  re- 
lation to  conservation  have  laws  restricting 
the  employment  of  children  and  shortening 
the  working-day?  Why  was  the  law  passed 
prohibiting  the  use  of  phosphorus  in  the 
manufacture  of  matches?  Give  some  other 
illustrations.  Jesus  said,  "The  Sabbath  was 
made  for  man,  not  man  for  the  Sabbath" 
(Mark  2:27).  Apply  this  principle  of  Sabbath 
observance  to  conservation. 

In  our  great  cities  there  is  much  waste  of 
human  life  through  bad  housing  conditions  and 
lack  of  proper  sanitation.  Discuss  from  the 
point  of  view  of  conservation  the  value  of  parks 
and  playgrounds,  bathing-beaches,  the  juvenile 
court,  the  inspection  of  milk  and  other  foods. 


78  Problems    of   Boyhood 

Great  progress  in  medicine  has  been  made  in 
the  prevention  of  disease.  Do  we  owe  the 
Panama  Canal  more  to  our  engineering  skill 
or  to  our  ability  to  prevent  tropical  diseases  ? 

We  hear  much  about  the  high  cost  of  living 
in  these  days.  What  do  you  think  of  the  state- 
ment that  the  problem  is  to  meet  the  cost  of 
high  living  rather  than  the  high  cost  of  living  ? 
Can  you  think  of  some  things  which  you  have 
and  could  hardly  get  on  without  which  your 
father  never  had  when  he  was  a  boy?  Can 
you  think  of  things  which  you  have  that  you 
could  as  well  or  better  get  on  without?  One 
who  lives  in  the  country  knows  that  good  fruit 
rots  on  the  ground  each  fall  because  the  owner 
does  not  find  it  profitable  to  ship  it  to  market. 
How  do  you  reconcile  this  fact  with  the  high 
price  of  apples  in  the  city  market  ?  Why  need 
people  anywhere  be  hungry  when  there  is  food 
enough  for  all  ? 

In  every  form  of  industry,  production  has 
been  greatly  increased  by  the  introduction  of 
labor-saving  machinery.  Discuss  the  effect  of 
the  invention  of  the  cotton  gin.     Compare  the 


Conservation   and   Efficiency    79 

methods  of  planting,  cultivating,  and  harvesting 
crops  employed  forty  years  ago  with  those 
employed  now.  What  has  been  the  effect  of  the 
telephone,  the  typewriter,  the  adding  machine, 
and  stenography  upon  business  efficiency? 
Discuss  in  detail  the  effect  of  labor-saving 
machinery  in  some  industry  with  which  you  are 
familiar. 

The  introduction  of  labor-saving  machinery 
has  made  important  changes  in  our  social  and 
industrial  life.  These  changes  have  been  in 
many  respects  beneficial;  they  have  also  intro- 
duced serious  social  problems.  What  bene- 
ficial results  can  you  mention?  What  has 
become  of  the  workmen  whose  places  have  been 
taken  by  machinery  ?  What  has  been  the  effect 
upon  the  length  of  the  working-day?  What 
is  the  value  of  a  shorter  working-day  to  the 
workman  ?  The  shoemaker  once  performed  all 
the  labor  involved  in  the  making  of  a  shoe, 
beginning  with  the  tanned  hide,  and  ending 
with  the  finished  shoe.  Now  many  workmen 
have  a  part  in  the  process,  each  repeating  the 
same  small  part  over  and  over.    The  result  is 


8o  Problems   of   Boyhood 

more  and  better  shoes;  but  what  is  the  effect 
upon  the  workman  ? 

An  important  gain  in  efficiency  in  industry 
has  been  made  by  carefully  observing  the 
movements  of  the  workman  as  he  performs 
his  task  and  carefully  eliminating  unnecessary 
movements.  Thus  it  has  been  found  that  by 
providing  the  material  needed  in  the  most 
convenient  way,  and  by  omitting  certain  un- 
necessary movements,  a  bricklayer  can  accom- 
plish several  times  as  much  work  in  a  given 
time  without  additional  fatigue.  Do  you  know 
of  any  other  similar  gains  that  have  been  made 
in  practical  efficiency?  Another  very  impor- 
tant element  in  successful  business  has  been  the 
utilization  of  by-products.  It  is  said  that  in 
the  great  meat-packing  houses  of  Chicago  no 
part  of  the  animal  is  lost  but  the  squeal.  Every 
portion  from  the  blood  to  the  hoofs  is  used. 
Valuable  by-products  are  secured  in  every 
line  of  industry;  these  are  said  in  some  cases  to 
be  more  valuable  than  the  original  products. 
What  do  you  know  of  the  by-products  of  the 
steel  business,  the  oil  business,  of  the  use  of 


Conservation   and   Efficiency    8i 

tailings  in  mines,  of  the  use  of  cotton  seed? 
Discuss  in  detail  the  use  of  by-products  in  any 
industry  in  your  community.  Compare  the 
amount  of  money  invested  in  churches  and 
school  buildings  with  the  actual  use  made  of  the 
buildings.  Discuss  the  larger  use  of  these 
buildings  for  the  social  and  political  needs  of 
the  community. 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

The  work  of  the  reclamation  service  of  the  govern- 
ment in  the  Everglades  of  Florida  and  the  irrigation 
projects  of  the  West. 

The  preservation  and  use  of  the  national  forests. 

The  preservation  of  the  coal  fields  of  Alaska. 

The  prevention  of  unnecessary  noises. 


STUDY  XV 
CONSERVATION  AND  EFFICIENCY— Caw/mwe^i 

In  the  last  study  we  discussed  conservation 
and  efficiency  in  their  larger  aspects  as  applied 
to  the  nation  and  community  and  to  various 
industries.  In  this  study  we  shall  make  a  per- 
sonal application  of  the  principles  involved.  It 
need  not  be  said  that  an  efficient  nation  or  com- 
munity must  be  composed  of  people  who  are 
individually  efficient  and  thrifty.  Nature  has 
bestowed  upon  each  of  us  certain  resources,  the 
conservation  and  efficient  use  of  which  are 
essential  to  our  success  as  individuals.  What 
are  these  ? 

We  shall  agree  that  our  physical  resources 
are  of  great  value.  We  are  not  all  equally 
endowed  by  Nature  in  this  respect.  It  is 
possible,  however,  to  remedy  in  large  measure 
what  seem  to  be  physical  defects.  Mr.  Roose- 
velt in  the  second  chapter  of  his  autobiography 
has  told  us  how  from  a  sickly  boy,  with  no  natu- 
ral bodily  prowess,  he  made  himself  into  the 
82 


Conservation  and   Efficiency    83 

robust  and  vigorous  man  with  whose  physical 
efficiency  the  whole  world  is  now  familiar.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  is  possible  for  one  not  physi- 
cally strong  to  live  a  long  and  efficient  life  by 
carefully  conserving  such  strength  as  he  has.  A 
good  illustration  of  this  is  seen  in  the  case  of 
Dr.  Lyman  Abbott  whose  interesting  autobiog- 
raphy recently  appeared  in  the  Outlook.  In 
boyhood  are  laid  the  foundations  of  physical 
efficiency.  Careful  conformity  with  known 
laws  of  hygienic  living,  with  proper  physical 
training,  will  assure  the  full  development  of  a 
boy's  physical  resources.  The  previous  dis- 
cussions regarding  clean  thinking  and  living 
and  the  use  of  stimulants  and  narcotics  have 
an  important  bearing  on  physical  efficiency. 
Discuss  the  relation  of  the  pubHc  parks,  play- 
grounds, and  bathing-beaches  and  -pools  to 
the  physical  efficiency  of  the  next  generation. 
What  bearing  has  the  debated  question  of  sex- 
hygiene  instruction  in  the  public  schools  on 
this  topic  ? 

Our  minds  are  another  of  the  resources  which 
Nature  has  given  us.    Which  seems  to  you  the 


84  Problems   of   Boyhood 

more  essential  to  efficiency,  the  body  or  the 
mind  ?  Even  more  than  our  bodies,  our  minds 
must  be  properly  trained  in  order  to  be  effective. 
The  schools  afford  an  opportunity  for  all  to 
train  their  minds.  However,  many  boys  of 
good  natural  abilities  pass  through  school  and 
even  college  whose  minds  at  the  end  are  not 
well  trained  and  efficient.  How  do  you  account 
for  this?  It  appears  certain  that  it  does  not 
make  so  much  difference  what  one  studies,  and, 
within  certain  hmits,  how  long  one  studies; 
mental  efficiency  depends  most  upon  the  mental 
habits  which  one  has  acquired.  One  of  the 
most  important  of  these  is  concentration,  the 
power  to  apply  one's  mind  to  a  given  task  to  the 
complete  exclusion  of  everything  else.  This 
habit  may  be  acquired.  Is  your  mind  inclined 
to  wander  from  the  problem  in  geometry  which 
you  are  studying  to  the  coming  football  game  or 
party  ?  If  so,  you  must  bring  yourself  back  to 
your  task  by  an  act  of  the  wiU.  No  habit  so 
makes  for  mental  inefficiency  as  that  of  divided 
attention.  You  will  learn  your  lessons  better  in 
half  the  time  and  play  football  better  if  you 


Conservation   and   Efficiency    85 

hold  yourself  firmly  to  each  in  its  proper  time 
and  place.  "Work  while  you  work  and  play 
while  you  play"  is  a  maxim  of  supreme  im- 
portance. A  little  thought  about  your  own 
experience  will  reveal  some  other  important 
habits  of  mind.  Which  prepares  you  better 
for  the  semester  examination,  a  reasonable 
amount  of  work  each  day,  or  cramming  on  the 
night  before  the  examination?  What  other 
mental  habits  are  important  ? 

Does  the  possession  of  a  strong  and  well- 
trained  body  assure  efficiency  ?  of  a  well-trained 
mind?  Is  it  possible  to  have  both  and  yet 
be  inefficient?  A  right  attitude  toward  work 
must  accompany  these  if  efficiency  is  to  be 
assured.  Does  the  world  owe  anyone  a  living  ? 
If  you  had  a  million  dollars  and  a  good  education 
what  do  you  think  you  would  do?  Which 
seems  to  you  likely  to  apply  the  severer  test 
to  character,  wealth  or  poverty  ?  What  reasons 
have  you  for  thinking  that  your  life  would  not 
be  happy  if  you  should  do  no  work  ? 

The  habit  of  saving  is  as  essential  to  indi- 
vidual happiness  as  it  is  to  business  success. 


86  Problems    of   Boyhood 

Which  do  you  think  will  contribute  more  to 
a  man's  prosperity,  the  habit  of  saving  or  an 
increase  in  wages  ?  The  habit  of  saving  may 
be  acquired  early.  Do  you  keep  a  careful  ac- 
count of  all  the  money  you  receive  and  spend  ? 
Mr.  Rockefeller  did  this  when  he  was  earning  a 
few  dollars  a  week  as  a  clerk.  Boys  who  receive 
weekly  allowances  often  grow  up  without  any 
idea  of  the  value  of  money.  This  may  prove 
a  great  misfortune  later.  How  can  a  boy  who 
has  never  earned  any  money  have  any  sense  of 
its  value  ? 

People  sometimes  seem  to  think  that  dis- 
regard for  the  value  of  money  makes  them  so- 
cially conspicuous.  These  are  likely  to  be  of  the 
class  known  as ' '  newly  rich. ' '  In  what  ways  are 
the  boys  in  your  set  wasteful  ?  Are  you  just  as 
careful  not  to  waste  or  destroy  the  property  of 
your  school  or  of  your  employer  as  you  would  be 
if  it  were  your  own  ?  Should  a  traveling  man 
whose  expenses  are  paid  spend  more  money 
than  if  he  were  on  his  own  expense?  Jesus 
gave  a  good  object-lesson  in  economy  when 
after  feeding  the  multitude  he  had  the  fragments 


Conservation  and   Efficiency    87 

of  bread  and  fish  gathered  up  in  order  that  none 
should  be  lost  (Luke  9:12-17). 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

The  relation  of  recreation  to  efficiency. 

Forms  of  recreation  best  suited  to  boyhood  and  to 
mature  manhood. 

The  value  of  a  college  education  from  the  point  of 
view  of  efficiency. 


STUDY  XVI 
LOYALTY 

One  of  the  finest  qualities  one  can  possess 
is  loyalty.  It  finds  its  most  common  expres- 
sion in  our  relations  with  our  families  and 
friends,  with  the  social  group  of  which  we  are 
a  part,  our  school,  club,  or  Sunday  school;  it 
reaches  out  to  include  our  larger  relations 
to  our  city,  state,  and  country.  Tell  the 
story  of  Damon  and  Pythias.  Mention  some 
other  illustrations  of  conspicuous  loyalty. 
We  despise  one  who  is  disloyal,  e.g.,  Judas, 
Benedict  Arnold.  Mention  some  other  illus- 
trations of  disloyalty. 

What  is  the  basis  of  loyalty?  Your  life 
was  made  possible  at  the  cost  of  severe  pain 
on  the  part  of  your  mother.  You  represent  a 
great  expenditure  of  care  and  labor  which  your 
parents  have  given  gladly,  but  which  you  will 
never  be  able  to  repay  in  kind.  Reckon  up  the 
amount  of  money  which  your  parents  have  in- 
vested in  you  up  to  this  time.    Discuss  what  it 

88 


Loyalty  89 

has  cost  in  human  life  to  give  us  the  country  in 
which  we  live.  Contrast  the  political  liberty 
which  we  enjoy  with  the  condition  of  the  people 
of  Russia.  At  the  time  of  the  war  in  the  Bal- 
kans, thousands  of  Greeks,  Bulgarians,  and 
representatives  of  the  other  Balkan  states 
returned  from  this  country  to  take  up  arms 
against  the  Turks.  Why  did  they  do  this? 
How  do  you  account  for  the  loyalty  of  the 
many  thousands  of  the  people  of  the  East  Side 
in  New  York  City  to  the  political  boss,  Tim 
Sullivan  ? 

But  there  often  seems  to  be  some  deeper  basis 
for  loyalty  than  that  of  service  rendered  or 
benefits  received.  There  is  such  a  thing  as 
loyalty  to  a  principle  or  an  ideal.  Why  did 
LaFayette  come  to  this  country  to  fight  by 
the  side  of  Washington?  At  the  time  of  the 
Boxer  uprising  in  China,  many  native  Chris- 
tians gave  up  their  lives.  To  what  did  they 
show  their  loyalty?  The  supreme  illustration 
is  the  life  and  death  of  Jesus.  To  what  was  he 
loyal?  Discuss  the  lives  of  WiUiam  Lloyd 
Garrison  and  Elijah  Parish  Lovejoy  as  examples 


90  Problems    of   Boyhood 

of  loyalty  to  principle.  What  are  some  of  the 
ideals  which  demand  your  loyalty  ? 

At  times  of  crisis,  loyalty  is  at  its  height. 
The  recent  outbreak  of  hostilities  with  Mexico 
was  followed  immediately  by  a  large  increase 
in  the  number  of  enlistments  for  the  army  and 
navy  at  the  various  recruiting  agencies.  It  is 
easy  then  to  respond  to  the  demands  of  loyalty. 
In  the  less  spectacular  times  of  peace  there  is  no 
less  need  of  loyalty.  In  what  other  ways  may 
we  show  our  loyalty  to  our  country  than  by 
taking  up  arms  ? 

There  is  often  a  conflict  in  the  demands  of 
loyalty.  Show  how  this  was  true  when  in  the 
Civil  War  members  of  the  same  family  fought 
on  opposite  sides.  Jesus  said  (Matt.  10:35, 
36),  "For  I  am  come  to  set  a  man  at  variance 
against  his  father,  and  the  daughter  against  her 
mother,  and  the  daughter-in-law  against  her 
mother-in-law.  And  a  man's  foes  shall  be  they 
of  his  own  household.'^  How  has  this  been 
illustrated  in  the  history  of  Christian  missions  ? 
Give  an  iQustration  in  which  a  man's  loyalty 
to  a  friend  would  conflict  with  loyalty  to  his 


Loyalty  91 

employer.  Does  loyalty  to  his  school  require 
a  student  to  support  the  team  in  crooked 
practices?  Should  a  boy  ever  "snitch"  on 
his  schoolmate?  Does  the  expression,  "My 
country,  right  or  wrong,"  represent  the  highest 
type  of  loyalty  ? 

Loyalty  to  a  person,  to  a  group,  or  to  an 
ideal,  when  put  to  the  test,  must  involve  the 
spirit  of  self-sacrifice.  Show  how  this  is  the 
case  in  the  instances  given  above.  Cite  some 
other  examples.  Professions  of  loyalty  are 
easily  made;  the  fulfilment  of  these  profes- 
sions is  not  always  easy.  Contrast  Peter's 
vigorous  expression  of  loyalty  to  Jesus  (Matt. 
26:35),  "Though  I  should  die  with  thee,  yet 
will  I  not  deny  thee,"  with  his  thrice-repeated 
denial  a  few  hours  later  (Matt.  26 :  69-75).  Our 
discussions  in  previous  studies  should  have  set 
up  in  our  minds  certain  ideals  demanding 
loyalty.  If  you  listen  and  laugh  at  the  telling 
of  a  smutty  story,  even  though  you  would 
not  tell  one  yourself,  are  you  loyal  to  the 
ideal  of  clean  speech?  How  can  you  show 
your  loyalty  under  such  circumstances  ?   What 


92  Problems    of   Boyhood 

are  some  of  the  ideals  to  which  you  should 
show  your  loyalty? 

Our  President  is  the  representative  of  a 
political  party.  Under  ordinary  circumstances, 
men  do  not  think  of  loyalty  to  the  country  as 
necessarily  demanding  loyalty  to  the  Presi- 
dent. In  times  of  crisis,  however,  when  our 
nation  becomes  involved  in  wars  with  a  foreign 
power,  loyalty  to  a  party  is  swallowed  up  in 
loyalty  to  the  country.  "Mr.  Wilson  was  not 
my  candidate,  but  he  is  my  President"  ex- 
presses this  larger  view  of  loyalty.  The  King 
of  England  is  not  a  member  of  any  party,  but 
stands  as  the  head  of  the  entire  nation,  a  central 
figure  uniting  the  loyalty  of  all  EngHshmen. 
What  advantage  is  there  in  this  ? 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

In  what  ways  may  a  boy  show  his  loyalty  to  his 
school  ? 

Loyalty  to  the  employer  versus  loyalty  to  the 
labor  union. 

Party  loyalty  and  municipal  politics. 

What  is  meant  by  loyalty  to  the  flag? 


STUDY  XVII 
CITIZENSfflP 
The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  de- 
clares that  "all  persons  born  or  naturalized  in 
the  United  States,  and  subject  to  the  juris- 
diction thereof,  are  citizens  of  the  United 
States  and  of  the  state  wherein  they  reside." 
This  provision  is  not  held  to  apply  to  Indian 
tribes  and  to  the  native  inhabitants  of  the 
Philippine  Islands  and  Porto  Rico.  On  what 
grounds  are  these  exceptions  based?  A  child 
born  abroad,  whose  father  is  an  American 
citizen,  is  an  American  citizen  under  certain 
conditions.  What  are  these  ?  Is  the  wife  of  a 
native  American  citizen,  herself  foreign  born, 
a  citizen  or  not?  Why?  Is  the  child  of  an 
official  representative  of  a  foreign  country 
bom  in  this  country  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States?  Is  a  Chinese  or  Japanese  child  born 
in  this  country  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  ? 
What  are  the  requirements  for  the  naturaliza- 
tion of  foreign-bom  citizens  ?    According  to  the 

93 


94  Problems   of   Boyhood 

latest  census,  what  proportion  of  the  citizens 
were  native  born,  foreign  born,  and  children 
of  foreign-born  parents? 

Citizenship  carries  with  it  certain  privileges 
and  obligations.  The  term  "privileges"  in  the 
Constitution  has  been  held  to  mean  security  to 
life  and  liberty,  the  right  to  acquire  and  hold 
property,  to  have  access  to  the  courts  of  jus- 
tice, and  freedom  to  seek  and  obtain  happiness 
and  safety  so  far  as  this  may  be  done  consist- 
ently with  the  public  good.  On  what  ground 
can  the  state  prohibit  the  sale  of  liquor  ?  Does 
citizenship  confer  the  right  to  vote  ?  By  what 
steps  can  the  privilege  of  the  ballot  be  given 
to  all  women  citizens  of  the  United  States? 
Inseparably  bound  up  with  these  privileges  are 
the  obligations  of  citizenship.  The  govern- 
ment which  provides  for  its  citizens  security  of 
life  and  property  must  itself  be  supported  by 
taxes  levied  upon  its  citizens  and  in  time  of 
need  may  call  upon  them  to  bear  arms  in  its 
defense.  A  good  citizen  willingly  pays  his  just 
share  of  the  cost  of  maintaining  his  city,  state, 
and  nation.    There  is  doubtless  much  evasion 


Citizenship  95 

practiced  by  citizens  in  declaring  their  prop- 
erty for  taxation.  If  one  man  pays  less  than 
his  fair  share,  others  must  pay  more.  For 
which  is  it  easier  to  evade  taxes,  the  rich  or 
the  poor?  What  is  the  justification  of  the 
income  tax? 

Germany  requires  miUtary  service  of  all  able- 
bodied  male  citizens  and  maintains  a  large 
and  efficient  standing  army.  This  country 
maintains  a  small  standing  army  of  volun- 
teers. Discuss  the  advantages  and  disadvan- 
tages which  the  German  system  would  have  in 
this  country.  George  Washington  said:  "To 
be  prepared  for  war  is  one  of  the  most  effectual 
means  of  preserving  peace. '  ^  Would  this  theory 
justify  the  maintenance  of  a  large  standing 
army?  What  do  you  think  of  the  argument 
against  woman  suffrage  that  women  cannot 
bear  arms  ? 

But  citizenship  should  carry  with  it  other 
obligations  than  the  mere  payment  of  taxes  and 
the  willingness,  if  need  be,  to  bear  arms  in  the 
country's  defense.  A  good  citizen  will  think 
less  of  the  rights  than  he  does  of  the  social 


96  Problems   of   Boyhood 

responsibilities  which  citizenship  involves. 
Casting  a  ballot  is  no  more  a  privilege  than  it 
is  an  obligation.  Which  is  the  more  important, 
to  vote  at  the  primaries  or  at  the  final  election  ? 
Why  ?  What  proportion  of  the  legal  voters  in 
your  city  or  town  voted  at  the  last  election? 
Whose  fault  is  it  if  the  government  of  a  city  is 
corrupt  ?  Is  the  corrupt  political  boss  a  neces- 
sity in  city  politics?  What  reason  is  there 
for  maintaining  national  party  lines  in  city 
elections  ?  Is  it  a  fact  that  the  best  qualified 
men  do  not  seek  political  ofiice  in  our  cities  ? 
If  so,  are  they  fulfilling  their  obligations  as 
citizens  ? 

The  good  citizen  will  be  intelligent  regarding 
the  many  forms  of  social  service  which  his  city 
and  state  undertake  for  the  good  of  the  com- 
munity, such  as  the  schools,  libraries,  hospitals, 
parks,  playgrounds,  and  various  institutions 
for  the  alleviation  of  suffering.  It  is  more 
important  to  prevent  ignorance,  sickness,  and 
crime  than  it  is  to  care  for  those  who  suffer 
from  the  results  of  these  evils.  Mention  the 
agencies  in  your  city  or  town  which  serve  as 


Citizenship  97 

preventives  and  those  which  deal  chiefly  with 
the  evil  results. 

Beside  those  agencies  supported  at  public 
expense,  there  are  many  voluntary  organizations 
dealing  with  the  problems  of  social  better- 
ment. A  good  citizen  will  be  interested  in  these 
and  will  support  them  to  the  extent  of  his 
ability.  Mention  such  of  these  agencies  as 
are  found  in  your  community.  Careful  study 
has  shown  that  much  individual  charity  is 
ineffective.  Scientifically  organized  charity  is 
likely  to  accomplish  much  more  good.  Why  is 
this  ?  Are  the  needs  of  your  community  fully 
met  by  public  and  private  organization  ?  What 
changes  would  you  suggest? 

What  opportunities  has  a  boy  of  sixteen 
to  secure  training  in  good  citizenship?  How 
can  well-conducted  clubs  and  other  organiza- 
tions help  to  this  end?  What  chances  has 
a  boy  in  high  school  to  practice  good  citizen- 
ship? Compare  the  opportunities  which  you 
have  with  those  which  your  father  had,  and 
consider  the  increased  obligation  which  will 
fall  upon  you. 


98  Problfms   of   Boyhood 

topics  for  discussion 

Tax  dodging  and  smuggling  as  related  to  good  citizen- 
ship. 

Miscellaneous  versus  scientifically  organized  charity. 

The  practicability  of  making  a  survey  of  the  organi- 
zations for  social  betterment  in  your  city  or  town. 


STUDY  XVIII 
CLUBS  AND  FRATERNITIES 

Sociability  is  one  of  the  most  marked  char- 
acteristics of  the  period  of  adolescent  boyhood. 
Boys  do  not  usually  enjoy  themselves  alone. 
They  naturally  form  groups  for  such  team 
games  as  football  and  baseball,  for  debating 
or  other  similar  activities.  Aside  from  the 
pleasure  which  these  activities  afford,  they 
enjoy  the  distinction  which  comes  from  holding 
offices  such  as  president  of  a  club  or  cap- 
tain of  a  team.  Boys  are  particularly  fond  of 
wearing  some  distinctive  emblem  of  the  organ- 
ization to  which  they  belong,  such  as  a  pin  or 
ring.  An  element  of  secrecy  seems  to  add 
charm  to  these  organizations  of  boyhood. 
How  do  you  account  for  this  ? 

Natural  centers  for  these  clubs  are  found  in 
schools,  churches,  social  centers,  and  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association.  In  these  there  is 
usually  found  helpful  co-operation  on  the  part 
of  older  people  which  assures  such  supervision 

99 


loo         Problems    of-  Boyhood 

as  to  make  these  clubs  generally  beneficial  to 
the  boys.  What  clubs  are  there  in  your  com- 
munity and  with  what  organizations  are  they 
connected?  Clubs  or  "gangs"  are  sometimes 
formed,  particularly  in  cities,  which  are  related 
to  no  such  organizations  and  which  are  fre- 
quently harmful  in  their  effects  upon  their  mem- 
bers.    Do  you  know  of  any  such  ? 

There  are  many  advantages  to  be  gained  from 
many  of  these  organizations.  They  ofifer  oppor- 
tunity for  forming  close  and  helpful  friendships, 
some  of  which  last  through  life.  They  develop 
quahties  of  leadership  so  essential  to  strong 
manhood.  They  provide  helpful  activities 
which  afford  valuable  physical,  intellectual,  and 
social  training.  What  other  advantages  can  you 
think  of  ?  Discuss  the  advantages  to  be  derived 
from  some  club  of  which  you  are  a  member. 

There  are  also  many  disadvantages  which 
may  go  with  boys'  clubs.  They  sometimes 
become  so  exclusive  as  to  develop  snobbishness. 
Under  what  circumstances  is  this  likely  to  be 
the  case  ?  Why  is  such  a  club  undesirable  in  a 
school  ?    Sometimes  the  ideals  of  a  club  are  not 


Clubs   and   Fraternities  ;  ijoe 

high.  The  friendships  formed  in  such  a  club 
are  harmful.  The  expense  involved  is  fre- 
quently greater  than  some  of  the  members  can 
afford.  What  other  disadvantages  can  you 
think  of?  Discuss  the  disadvantages  of  any 
club  of  which  you  know.  The  most  successful 
clubs  are  almost  sure  to  be  under  the  super- 
vision of  some  mature  man.  What  sort  of  man 
makes  the  best  leader  of  a  boys'  club  ? 

Fraternities  within  the  last  few  years  have 
been  organized  in  many  high  schools.  Great 
opposition  to  them  has  developed  among  school 
officials  which  has  led  in  many  cases  to  rules 
excluding  them  from  the  school.  Several  states 
have  even  passed  laws  prohibiting  them.  Re- 
cently some  college  fraternities  have  expressed 
their  disapproval  and  have  taken  action  exclud- 
ing from  their  membership  boys  who  have 
been  members  of  high-school  fraternities.  It  is 
difficult  for  boys  in  school  to  understand  this 
opposition,  and  there  has  been  a  more  or  less 
successful  effort  to  maintain  the  fraternities  in 
spite  of  opposition  against  them.  This  has 
led  to  dishonest  practices  or  open  rebellion, 


•ic3f2         Problems    of   Boyhood 

harmful  to  the  members  themselves  and  to 
the  proper  social  life  of  the  schools. 

Let  us  consider  the  reasons  which  have  led 
to  this  opposition  to  high-school  fraternities. 
The  fundamental  reason  is  that  the  fraternity 
is  essentially  undemocratic.  The  member- 
ship is  usually  limited  in  number  and  is  open 
only  to  those  who  have  been  selected  by  all 
the  members  according  to  standards  not 
generally  known  and  often  quite  artificial,  such 
as  manner  of  dress  or  the  ownership  of  an  auto- 
mobile. "  Once  a  member,  always  a  member," 
is  the  rule.  A  young  boy  thus  often  does  not 
choose  his  permanent  friends  but  is  chosen  by 
others  before  he  is  old  enough  to  make  so  grave 
a  choice  for  himself.  He  may  find  himself 
intimately  associated  with  boys  from  whose 
friendship  he  cannot  escape,  even  if  he  would, 
without  danger  of  social  ostracism.  The  mem- 
bers of  a  fraternity  feel  bound  to  promote  the 
supposed  advantages  of  their  own  members 
often  to  the  detriment  of  the  school  as  a  whole. 
Real  values  are  lost  sight  of  through  the  schem- 
ing of  fraternities,  and  captains  of  teams  and 


Clubs    and    Fraternities      103 

other  officers  are  elected  who  are  not  fitted  to 
fill  these  positions.  The  interests  of  the  larger 
social  group  represented  by  the  school  are  thus 
set  aside  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  smaller 
group.  Loyalty  to  the  fraternity  is  placed 
above  loyalty  to  the  school.  A  study  of  actual 
conditions  has  shown  that  the  scholarship  of 
fraternity  members  is  generally  lower  than  that 
of  other  boys.  The  fraternity  not  only  tends 
to  set  up  false  standards  for  social  preferment, 
but  also  to  develop  low  moral  standards  among 
its  members.  This  is  particularly  true  in  the 
matter  of  honesty,  for  boys  who  are  members 
of  fraternities  are  usually  ready  to  lie  to  de- 
fend a  "brother,"  apparently  feeling  that  this 
is  demanded  of  them  as  loyal  members.  Under 
some  conditions,  doubtless,  high-school  fra- 
ternities do  not  justly  fall  under  these  more 
serious  charges.  But  of  all  it  may  be  said 
that  they  are  essentially  undemocratic  and  as 
such  are  out  of  harmony  with  the  best  interests 
of  a  school. 

Are  there  fraternities  in  your  school  ?    If  so, 
discuss  their  activities  and  influence  in  the  light 


104         Problems    of   Boyhood 

of  these  criticisms.  Discuss  fraternities  among 
men,  like  the  Masons.  How  can  clubs  be  organ- 
ized in  the  high  school  to  satisfy  the  legitimate 
and  desirable  social  needs  of  boys  ?  Why  are 
these  better  both  for  the  individual  boys  and 
the  school  as  a  whole?  Discuss  the  kinds  of 
clubs  best  suited  to  the  church  or  Sunday 
school. 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

Are  college  fraternities  open  to  the  same  criticism 
as  high-school  fraternities? 

The  Catholic  church  and  secret  organizations. 


STUDY  XIX 
THE  IDEALISM  OF  BOYHOOD 

Youth  is  the  time  of  idealism.  The  poet  has 
said  "A  boy's  will  is  the  wind's  will  and  the 
thoughts  of  youth  are  long,  long  thoughts." 
What  did  he  mean  by  this  ?  Every  boy  in  his 
teens  has  his  idea  of  the  kind  of  man  he  wants  to 
be  and  of  the  work  he  wants  to  do  when  he 
becomes  a  man.  The  ideals  he  sets  for  himself 
wiU  vary  at  different  times  according  to  the 
changes  which  Nature  is  making  inside  him  and 
to  the  surroundings  in  which  he  lives.  At  a 
certain  period  in  their  development  most  boys 
want  to  live  lives  of  wild  adventure,  at  other 
times  romance  makes  its  appeal,  and  at  still 
others,  the  serious  pursuits  of  business  or  pro- 
fessional life.  What  different  ideals  have  you 
had  for  your  life  ? 

Boyhood  is  a  time  of  hero  worship.  In  a 
boy's  mind  there  is  pretty  sure  to  be  enthroned 
someone  who  represents  the  ideal  he  would 
like  to  reach.    This  may  be  the  captain  of  the 


io6         Problems    of    Boyhood 

team,  or  some  other  great  athlete;  perhaps  it 
may  be  his  father  or  teacher;  sometimes  it  may 
be  a  character  in  history  or  fiction.  But  who- 
ever his  ideal  may  be,  this  is  a  very  real  factor 
in  the  life  of  the  boy.  It  makes  a  great  differ- 
ence what  sort  of  a  person  you  have  set  up  as 
your  ideal  of  attainment,  for  this  ideal  affects 
your  present  life  and  conduct  profoundly.  At 
different  times  the  sort  of  person  who  seems  to  a 
boy  most  desirable  to  imitate  varies,  just  as  his 
plans  for  future  occupation  differ.  Discuss  the 
different  persons  whom  you  have  most  wished 
to  be  like  at  different  times  in  your  life. 

Why  is  it  that  a  boy's  ideals  are  so  change- 
able? While  this  is  natural  for  a  boy,  it  is 
very  unfortunate  for  a  man  to  have  his  ideals 
constantly  changing.  The  changing  ideals  and 
purposes  of  boyhood  should  gradually  settle 
down  into  the  stable  convictions  of  mature  man- 
hood. Such  discussions  as  we  have  had  regard- 
ing the  problems  of  boyhood  should  have  given 
us  a  more  serious  attitude  toward  life  and 
should  have  helped  to  shape  the  ideal  person 
that  we  should  like  to  be.     In  the  light  of  these 


The    Idealism    of    Boyhood     107 

discussions,  describe  the  characteristics  of  the 
kind  of  man  you  would  like  to  be,  physical, 
intellectual,  moral. 

Perhaps  the  word  ''gentleman''  sums  up 
better  than  any  other  single  word  the  qualities 
that  should  be  found  in  a  boy's  ideal.  We 
should  not  wish  to  use  this  term  in  the  restricted 
sense  that  it  once  had  in  England,  as  meaning 
a  man  who  engages  in  no  occupation  or  profes- 
sion regularly  for  gain,  but  in  the  broader,  more 
democratic  sense  in  which  the  word  is  used  in 
this  country.  Thomas  Arnold  used  to  say  to 
the  boys  in  the  famous  Rugby  School,  using 
the  word  in  its  broader  sense,  that  it  was  not 
necessary  that  Rugby  should  be  a  school  of  any 
given  number  of  boys,  but  that  it  was  neces- 
sary that  it  should  be  a  school  of  Christian 
gentlemen. 

Let  us  consider  what  it  means  to  be  a  gentle- 
man. To  be  a  gentleman,  must  one  wear  a 
certain  kind  of  clothes,  speak  a  certain  kind  of 
language,  or  belong  to  a  certain  social  set? 
What  is  the  advantage  of  the  externals  which 
go  with  what  we  call  good  breeding?    What 


io8         Problems    of   Boyhood 

are  the  fundamental  qualities  which  mark  the 
real  gentleman  ?  There  are  some  things  which 
a  gentleman  will  never  do.  What  are  these? 
Will  a  gentleman  ever  lie  ?  There  are  certain 
things  which  a  gentleman  will  always  do. 
What  are  these?  What  is  the  difference 
between  a  snob  and  a  gentleman  ?  Discuss  in 
connection  with  your  idea  of  a  gentleman  the 
teachings  of  Jesus  regarding  retaliation  in 
Matt.  5:38-42,  e.g.,  ''But  I  say  unto  you,  that 
ye  resist  not  evil :  but  whosoever  shall  smite  thee 
on  thy  right  cheek,  turn  to  him  the  other  also." 
In  a  school  the  boys  who  are  placed  in  promi- 
nent positions  are  regarded  as  representing  the 
social  ideals  of  the  school.  Is  this  conclusion 
always  justified?  If  not,  why?  The  captain 
of  the  football  team  is  one  of  the  strongest 
factors  in  the  moral  life  of  the  school.  Other 
captains  and  officers  are  important  factors 
according  to  the  importance  which  is  attached 
to  the  position  held.  The  younger  boys  in  the 
school  unconsciously  have  their  ideals  modified 
by  the  examples  of  these  older  boys.  Are  the 
boys  who  hold  these  positions  in  your  school 


The    Idealism    of    Boyhood     109 

worthy  ideals  for  the  other  boys  to  follow  ?    If 
not,  whose  fault  is  it  ? 

The  final  test  of  a  man's  ideal  is  the  man 
himself,  for  he  tends  to  become  like  his  ideal. 
The  highest  ideal  which  a  man  can  follow  is 
represented  by  Jesus  whose  life  embodies  the 
fundamental  qualities  which  are  admirable. 
He  said  (John  12:32),  "And  I,  if  I  be  lifted 
up  from  the  earth,  will  draw  all  men  unto  me." 
In  what  respects  has  the  ideal  of  Jesus'  life 
changed  the  lives  of  individuals  and  of  society  ? 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

What  qualities  are  considered  most  admirable  in 
your  school  ? 

Does  the  most  popular  boy  in  your  school  possess 
the  qualities  of  an  ideal  gentleman  ? 

What  man  now  living  represents  most  completely 
your  ideal  ?    What  character  in  history  or  fiction  ? 


STUDY  XX 
MEASURE  OF  SUCCESS 

Every  young  man  should  make  success  the 
goal  of  his  life.  Whether  his  life  is  lived  on  a 
high  or  low  plane  will  depend  upon  what  he 
means  by  success  and  the  constancy  with  which 
he  pursues  this  ideal.  If  you  ask  the  first  dozen 
men  whom  you  meet  for  their  definitions  of 
success,  you  will  probably  find  that  they  do 
not  agree.  Let  us  consider  some  of  the  ele- 
ments which  will  most  Hkely  be  included. 

First  of  all,  the  acquisition  of  wealth  is  a 
common  measure  of  success.  In  order  to  live 
in  any  civilized  community,  one  must  have 
many  things  which  only  money  can  secure. 
One  certainly  cannot  succeed  unless  he  is  able 
to  provide  for  himself  at  least  the  necessary 
food  and  clothing  which  his  physical  life 
demands.  Beyond  this  the  value  of  money 
depends  upon  the  use  which  one  makes  of  it. 
Is  the  acquisition  of  money  for  its  own  sake 
or  for  the  sake  of  luxury  or  display  likely  to 


Measure    of    Success  hi 

assure  a  man's  success  in  the  highest  sense? 
What  are  the  characteristics  which  this  aim  is 
likely  to  develop  in  a  man  ?  Tell  the  story  of 
Midas.  Discuss  the  saying  of  Paul :  "  The  love 
of  money  is  a  root  of  all  kinds  of  eviP'  (I  Tim. 
6:  lo).  Jesus  taught  that  riches  are  a  spiritual 
hindrance.  Discuss  his  saying:  "  It  is  easier  for 
a  camel  to  go  through  the  eye  of  a  needle,  than 
for  a  rich  man  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  God'' 
(Mark  10:25). 

A  few  years  ago  the  leading  business  men  of 
the  coimtry  were  spoken  of  as  "captains  of 
industry";  now  they  are  more  often  referred 
to  as  the  "predatory  rich."  What  has  brought 
about  this  change  in  the  public  attitude  ? 

Another  measure  of  success  in  the  minds  of 
some  people  is  social  position  or  influence  in 
the  community.  Both  these  aims  are  worthy 
enough  in  themselves  if  they  are  not  too  highly 
valued  and  if  they  are  used  for  good  ends. 
What  contributes  to  social  standing  and  influ- 
ence in  your  community  ?  What  are  the  char- 
acteristics of  the  most  influential  man  you 
know?    How   did    he    secure    his    influence? 


112         Problems    of    Boyhood 

For  what  ends  does  he  use  his  power?  Con- 
trast two  men  of  influence,  one  of  whom  seems 
to  you  to  have  secured  his  power  in  an  honorable 
manner  and  to  use  it  for  worthy  ends,  the  other 
of  whom  has  both  secured  his  influence  and  now 
employs  it  in  an  unworthy  manner. 

A  third  measure  of  success  is  happiness. 
This  has  the  approval  of  many  philosophers, 
and,  like  wealth  and  influence,  may  be  a  worthy 
end  to  seek.  We  must,  however,  define  what 
we  mean  by  happiness  before  we  can  subscribe 
to  this  as  a  measure  of  success.  Is  happiness 
that  is  secured  only  by  physical  comfort  or 
by  pleasurable  sensation  a  worthy  measure  of 
success?  Give  some  specific  illustration  of 
this.  Does  happiness  result  chiefly  from  a 
man's  wealth,  from  his  work,  from  his  health  ? 
Does  the  possession  of  millions  of  dollars 
necessarily  bring  happiness?  What  seems  to 
you  to  be  the  highest  type  of  happiness  and 
what  is  its  fundamental  basis  ? 

None  of  those  three  measures  of  success  by 
itself  seems  wholly  to  satisfy  us.  Would  you 
choose  to  become  the  richest  man  in  your  town 


Measure    of    Success  113 

at  the  cost  of  lost  health  ?  Would  you  deliber- 
ately choose  to  become  mayor  of  your  city  at 
the  cost  of  bribery  and  dishonor  ?  If  everyone 
were  contented  with  his  present  lot,  what 
hope  would  there  be  of  progress?  But  the 
possession  of  wealth  to  be  spent  for  the  social 
good,  of  influence  to  be  used  for  the  betterment 
of  society,  happiness  secured  through  service 
for  others,  are  all  ends  highly  to  be  desired. 
The  added  element  of  service,  then,  makes  any 
one  of  the  commonly  accepted  standards  of 
success  worthy  of  our  best  efforts.  Jesus 
discussed  the  relative  importance  of  the  various 
ends  for  which  men  strive,  e.g.  (Matt.  6 :  19-34). 
What  did  he  mean  when  he  said  (vs.  33), 
"But  seek  ye  first  the  Kingdom  of  God  and  his 
righteousness;  and  all  these  things  shall  be 
added  unto  you"?  Was  his  life  a  success  or 
a  failure  ?  Discuss  the  life  of  Lincoln  from  the 
standpoint  of  success.  Is  the  judgment  of  a 
man*s  contemporaries  as  to  his  success  always 
correct  ? 

Do  you  know  of  any  wealthy  men  who  may 
be  called  successful  according  to  this  higher 


114         Problems   of   Boyhood 

standard  of  service?  Discuss  the  use  they 
make  of  their  wealth.  Discuss  some  men  who 
use  their  powerful  social  position  or  influence 
in  the  service  of  others. 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

The  winning  of  games  as  a  measure  of  success  in 
athletics. 

What  is  the  measure  of  success  in  a  high-school  or 
college  course  ? 

How  much  money  should  a  successful  business  man 
expect  to  acquire  ? 


STUDY  XXI 
THE  CHOICE  OF  A  LIFE-WORK 

We  discussed  in  the  last  study  the  measure  by 
which  a  man  should  rate  success.  A  boy  is  con- 
fronted with  the  serious  question:  What  shall  I 
do  in  order  to  secure  the  maximum  amount  of 
happiness  and  to  render  the  maximum  amount 
of  service  to  society?  A  few  generations  ago 
this  was  a  relatively  simple  problem;  now  it  is 
a  very  complex  one.  Discuss  the  reasons  for 
this  change. 

We  shall  agree  that  success  in  any  occupation 
or  profession  requires  that  one  be  well  pre- 
pared. Adequate  provision  is  made  at  public 
expense  through  the  public  elementary  schools 
for  acquiring  the  fundamentals  of  an  education. 
The  high  school,  college,  and  university  also 
make  possible  the  specialized  training  required 
for  the  professions  and  technical  pursuits.  The 
present  movement  for  industrial  education 
looks  toward  a  complete  training  for  skilled 
industrial  workers  in  the  various  industries. 


ii6         Problems    of    Boyhood 

Boys  often  leave  school  as  soon  as  they  reach 
the  age  required  by  law  and  go  to  work.  The 
only  occupation  they  can  secure  is  often  a 
"blind  alley"  job,  which  leads  to  no  advance- 
ment. What  jobs  of  this  sort  do  you  know  of  ? 
What  is  the  age  at  which  compulsory  education 
ends  in  your  state  ?  If  boys  can  be  taught  a 
trade,  will  they  be  more  anxious  to  remain  in 
school  after  they  have  reached  the  legal  age? 
Would  you  favor  increasing  the  age  of  required 
school  attendance  ? 

The  opportunity  for  the  necessary  training  is 
evidently  at  hand;  the  important  thing  is  the 
choice  of  a  life-work.  A  wrong  choice  is  a 
serious  loss.  Doubtless  many  a  good  farmer 
has  been  lost  to  make  a  poor  lawyer.  Whether 
a  boy  shall  become  a  professional  man,  a  farmer, 
a  merchant,  or  a  mechanic  is  not  a  question  of 
the  relative  importance  of  these  various  occu- 
pations from  the  social,  financial,  or  any  other 
point  of  view,  for  they  are  all  important  and 
desirable;  it  is  merely  the  question  in  which  of 
these  occupations  is  he  best  fitted  by  Nature 
to  achieve  success.    How  may  he  answer  this 


Choice    of   a   Life-Work        117 

question  intelligently?  To  whom  may  he  go 
for  advice?  His  father  may  be  able  to  help 
him,  or  perhaps  his  teacher.  Vocational  ad- 
visers are  provided  by  some  school  systems 
for  this  purpose.  Until  recently,  chance  or  a 
passing  whim  have  had  most  to  do  with  this 
important  decision  in  a  boy's  life.  Before 
making  the  choice,  a  boy  should  seek  the  best 
possible  advice  and  should  find  out  all  he  can 
about  the  requirements  for  success  in  the  field 
of  work  which  he  is  thinking  of  entering.  Let 
us  take  up  briefly  a  number  of  the  professions 
and  other  occupations  from  the  point  of  view 
of  the  training  required  and  the  conditions 
which  are  involved  in  their  pursuit. 

MEDICINE 

For  a  training  in  medicine,  the  best  medical 
schools  are  now  requiring  at  least  two  years  of 
college  work  for  admission;  some  even  require 
the  student  to  complete  a  college  course  before 
beginning  the  study  of  medicine.  The  oppor- 
tunity which  the  practice  of  medicine  affords 
for  service  to  humanity  is  almost  unlimited. 


ii8         Problems    of   Boyhood 

The  great  discoveries  in  medicine  have  pre- 
vented untold  suffering.  Mention  some  dis- 
coveries and  discuss  their  results,  e.g.,  the  use 
of  ether  as  an  anesthetic.  Physicians  have 
given  their  lives  for  mankind  in  the  pursuit  of 
knowledge  of  diseases.  Dr.  Howard  T.  Rick- 
etts,  of  Rush  Medical  College,  while  study- 
ing spotted  fever,  lost  his  life  by  contracting 
this  disease.  Physicians  are  studying  the  cause 
and  prevention  of  many  diseases,  e.g.,  cancer, 
and  it  is  probable  that  they  will  learn  to  control 
or  prevent  one  after  another  the  diseases  which 
have  thus  far  baffled  them.  Discuss  the  prog- 
ress that  has  been  made  with  such  diseases 
as  smallpox,  diphtheria,  typhoid  fever,  tuber- 
culosis. What  diseases  are  still  beyond  their 
control?  What  are  the  physical  demands 
which  a  physician^s  life  involves  ?  What  spe- 
cial opportunities  has  a  physician  to  exert  a 
strong  moral  influence  ?  Are  physicians  gener- 
ally wealthy  men  ?  What  are  the  hardships  of 
a  physician's  life  ?  What  seem  to  you  to  be  the 
chief  sources  of  satisfaction  that  a  physician 
may  expect  ? 


Choice    of   a   Life-Work        119 

LAW 

The  best  law  schools  now  require  for  ad- 
mission two  years  of  college  work  and  some 
of  them  require  the  completion  of  a  college 
course.  The  practice  of  law  is  the  most  com- 
mon avenue  to  pubHc  life,  furnishing  a  large 
number  of  the  more  prominent  politicians 
and  public  office  holders.  A  lawyer  with 
high  ideals  may  find  abundant  opportunity 
for  disinterested  public  service.  Give  some 
illustration.  Lincoln  secured  the  epithet 
"Honest  Abe"  from  his  practice  of  law. 
Can  an  honest  lawyer  defend  a  client  whom 
he  knows  to  be  guilty?  It  is  sometimes 
thought  that  a  boy  who  shows  an  aptitude 
for  public  speaking  is  for  this  reason  specially 
adapted  for  the  legal  profession.  There  are 
some  things  far  more  important  than  this. 
The  practice  of  law  often  does  not  involve  the 
pleading  of  cases  in  court.  A  sound  knowl- 
edge of  the  law  and  good  judgment  in  giving 
advice  are  more  important  than  brilHancy  in 
speech.  Mention  some  great  lawyers  who  have 
maintained  the  highest  standards  for  success. 


I20         Problems    of   Boyhood 

Do  lawyers  in  general  seem  to  you  to  maintain 
high  standards  ? 

TEACHING 

Teaching  does  not  usually  make  a  strong 
appeal  to  a  boy  as  a  life-work.  To  what  extent 
is  this  due  to  the  small  salaries  of  teachers  ?  to 
the  impression  which  your  teachers  made  on 
you?  to  the  unattractiveness  of  a  teacher's 
work  ?  The  great  majority  of  teachers  in  this 
country  are  women;  in  Germany  all  the 
teachers  in  the  schools  corresponding  to  our 
high  schools  are  men.  Has  this  anything  to 
do  with  the  situation  ?  With  the  more  exact- 
ing professional  training  required  of  teachers 
and  the  corresponding  increase  in  salaries,  it 
is  likely  that  teaching  will  become  a  more 
attractive  profession  for  men.  What  seem  to 
you  to  be  the  most  essential  requirements  for 
successful  teaching  ?  No  profession,  save  pos- 
sibly the  ministry,  offers  a  greater  opportunity 
for  effective  social  service.  The  high-school 
teacher  has  unusual  opportunities.  Why  is 
this?  Discuss  the  relative  importance  of  the 
church,  the  school,  and  the  home  in  the  moral 


Choice    of   a   Life-Work        121 

training  of  high-school  boys.  How  may  a  high- 
school  teacher  best  influence  the  character  of 
his  students? 

THE   MINISTRY 

Perhaps  the  ministry  seems  even  less  attract- 
ive than  teaching  to  the  boy  who  is  thinking 
of  his  life-work.  Discuss  the  reasons  for  this. 
Thousands  of  the  best  young  men  in  our  col- 
leges have  enlisted  as  student  volunteers  in  the 
work  of  the  Christian  ministry  in  foreign  lands. 
Why  does  the  life  of  the  foreign  missionary 
make  a  stronger  appeal  to  young  men  than  that 
of  the  preacher  at  home  ?  Great  changes  have 
taken  place  in  the  scope  and  method  of  training 
men  for  the  ministry.  A  thorough  study  of  the 
conditions  and  needs  of  society  and  of  the 
means  by  which  the  church  may  meet  these 
has  taken  the  place  of  much  of  the  formal, 
doctrinal  teaching  of  the  past.  The  work  of 
the  minister  is  coming  to  have  a  vital  connection 
with  the  real  issues  of  the  life  of  today.  The 
ministry  of  the  modem  church  should  appeal  to 
a  boy  who  really  desires  to  use  his  talents  to  the 
utmost  advantage.    Discuss  the  church  as  a 


122         Problems   of   Boyhood 

social  center  for  the  education  and  amusement 
as  well  as  for  the  strictly  religious  training  of  the 
community.  Should  a  minister  confine  his 
preaching  simply  to  what  are  regarded  as  reli- 
gious subjects,  or  should  he  discuss  the  social 
and  political  questions  of  the  day  ?  The  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  and  various  forms 
of  social  service  offer  a  similar  appeal  to  that 
of  the  ministry.  Discuss  the  opportunities  in 
these  fields. 

BUSINESS 

In  earlier  years  only  those  boys  went  to  col- 
lege who  were  preparing  for  one  of  the  so-called 
learned  professions.  Now  the  majority  of  the 
members  of  the  graduating  classes  of  our  large 
universities  intend  to  enter  business.  Is  a 
college  course  necessary  for  success  in  business  ? 
What  advantages  has  a  college  graduate  in 
business  ?  Is  he  likely  to  make  a  greater  suc- 
cess than  the  man  who  began  as  a  boy  to  learn 
the  business  by  actual  experience?  Why  is  a 
business  life  so  attractive  to  a  boy  ?  Compare 
the  methods  of  business  today  with  those  of 
former  times.    Discuss  the  effect  of  the  tele- 


Choice    of    a   Life-Work        123 

phone,  typewriter,  stenography,  etc.,  upon  the 
life  of  a  business  man.  What  are  the  best  uses 
a  business  man  can  make  of  his  leisure  ?  Which 
have  the  greater  influence  upon  the  life  of  a 
city  or  town,  its  professional  or  its  business  men  ? 
What  are  the  advantages  and  disadvantages 
of  business  as  a  life-work  ? 

ENGINEERING 

The  various  branches  of  engineering — me- 
chanical, electrical,  civil,  etc. — afford  an  attract- 
ive field  for  young  men  whose  interests  and 
abilities  lie  in  the  field  of  mathematics  and 
applied  sciences.  The  great  material  develop- 
ment of  an  industrial  and  commercial  age  offers 
a  vast  field  for  the  use  of  engineering  skill. 
Ability  and  training  of  a  high  order  will  com- 
mand an  excellent  financial  return.  Many 
boys  have  doubtless  taken  up  the  study  of 
engineering  without  a  very  good  idea  of  what 
was  involved.  Only  rarely  is  a  Goethals  needed 
to  dig  an  inter-oceanic  canal;  most  engineers 
live  inconspicuous  lives  with  their  full  share 
of  drudgery  and  hardship,  and  without  large 


124         Problems    of   Boyhood 

financial  returns.  Before  deciding  upon  any 
form  of  engineering,  one  should,  if  possible,  talk 
with  some  experienced  engineer.  Training  in 
engineering  furnishes  excellent  preparation  for 
many  kinds  of  business,  particularly  in  manu- 
facturing lines.  Discuss  some  of  the  most 
conspicuous  achievements  in  the  field  of  modem 
engineering. 

FARMING 

One  of  the  most  marked  characteristics  of  the 
present  time  is  the  tendency  for  people  to 
crowd  together  into  cities.  The  most  ambitious 
boys  from  the  country  have  left  the  farms  for 
the  city.  What  has  attracted  them  ?  But  in 
the  last  few  years,  there  has  been  a  noticeable 
change.  Life  in  the  country  has  become  more 
comfortable  and  attractive.  Discuss  the  effect 
of  the  telephone  and  rural  mail  delivery  upon 
life  on  the  farm.  What  other  similar  changes 
have  come  about?  Agricultural  colleges  and 
courses  in  agriculture  in  the  high  schools  have 
introduced  scientific  methods  of  tilling  the  soil, 
dairying,  and  other  farm  activities.    The  mod- 


Choice    of   a   Life-Work        125 

em  farmer,  then,  is  a  man  of  scientific  training, 
who  lives  under  conditions  as  hygienic  and  com- 
fortable as  the  dwellers  in  the  towns  or  cities. 
What  are  the  comparative  advantages  of  coun- 
try and  city  life?  Which  seem  to  you  the 
greater?  Discuss  the  effect  of  improved  ma- 
chinery upon  the  life  of  the  farmer. 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

The  mechanical  trades.    Forestry.    The  army  and 
navy.    Politics. 


STUDY  XXII 
RELIGION 

We  have  reserved  to  the  last  the  supreme 
problem  of  boyhood,  the  boy's  relation  to  God. 
Man  is  by  nature  a  reUgious  being.  Our  minds 
naturally  inquire  the  origin  of  the  world  and  of 
life,  and  find  an  adetjuate  explanation  only  in 
a  supreme  intelligence  which  has  created  and 
which  now  controls  the  universe.  Primitive 
peoples  have  seen  the  manifestation  of  God  in 
the  sun,  in  fire,  and  in  other  natural  objects 
and  phenomena  and  have  made  these  the  objects 
of  worship.  Show  how  this  was  natural.  The 
highly  imaginative  Greeks  developed  a  great 
and  complex  system  of  gods.  The  Hebrews 
conceived  the  idea  of  one  God,  the  all-wise, 
all-powerful,  everywhere-present  ruler  of  the 
universe. 

Whether  one  is  a  Jew  or  a  Christian,  a  Metho- 
dist or  a  Baptist  depends  in  a  large  degree  upon 
the  religious  belief  of  his  parents.  But  religion 
is  fundamentally  a  personal  matter,  and,  as 
126 


Religion  127 

such,  is  not  concerned  primarily  with  matters 
of  creed,  or  with  forms  of  worship,  but  is  rather 
a  matter  of  experience  and  finds  its  expression 
in  conduct.  Jesus  said  (Matt.  7:21):  "Not 
every  one  that  saith  unto  me,  Lord,  Lord, 
shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven;  but 
he  that  doeth  the  will  of  my  Father  which 
is  in  heaven."  In  the  Epistle  of  James,  we 
find  reUgion  defined  as  follows:  "Pure  religion 
and  undefiled  before  our  God  and  Father  is 
this,  to  visit  the  fatherless  and  widows  in  their 
aflaiction,  and  to  keep  oneself  unspotted  from 
the  world"  (James  1:27).  What  two  aspects 
of  rehgion  are  included  here  ?  Is  this  all  there 
is  to  rehgion  ? 

If  your  parents  are  members  of  a  church, 
you  have  probably  been  accustomed  to  attend 
church  and  Sunday  school;  perhaps  you  have 
yourself  joined  some  church.  If  so,  have  you 
ever  thought  out  for  yourself  what  are  your 
obligations  to  your  church  and  community  ?  If 
you  have  not  yet  become  a  member  of  a  church, 
have  you  thought  seriously  about  your  obliga- 
tion to  do  so  ? 


128         Problems    of   Boyhood 

The  church  represents  those  ideals  which  are 
most  important  for  the  moral  and  social  welfare 
of  the  community.  Discuss  the  influence  of  the 
church  in  such  questions  as  the  saloon,  the  social 
evil,  child  welfare.  What  would  be  the  condi- 
tions in  your  town  if  the  churches  were  re- 
moved ?  To  be  sure,  not  all  men  who  are  influ- 
ential in  moral  issues  are  church  members. 
Consider  who  are  the  most  influential  men  in 
your  community.  How  many  of  them  are  not 
members  of  churches?  Are  the  churches  be- 
coming more  influential  in  matters  concern- 
ing the  public  welfare  or  less?  Can  you  not 
probably  make  your  life  count  for  more  in  your 
community  by  uniting  with  some  church? 
Membership  in  a  church  assures  one  the  sym- 
pathy and  help  of  others.  Do  you  not  need 
such  a  help  and  safeguard  ? 

In  order  to  be  religious  or  to  be  in  right  rela- 
tionship with  God,  is  it  necessary  to  be  a  mem- 
ber of  a  church?  Is  the  fact  that  there  are 
persons  outside  the  church  who  live  more 
exemplary  lives  than  some  church  members  a 
good  argument  against  uniting  with  the  church  ? 


Religion  129 

K  you  are  a  member  of  a  church,  what  benefits 
have  you  received  from  this  membership? 
Should  one  rate  the  value  of  church  member- 
ship solely  on  the  basis  of  benefits  received? 
What  do  you  contribute  to  the  work  of  your 
church  ? 

What  are  the  hindrances  which  keep  boys 
from  uniting  with  the  church  ?  The  ceremonies 
required  in  the  act  of  joining  the  church  often  do 
not  appeal  to  a  boy.  He  finds  it  difficult  to 
understand  their  meaning.  What  is  the  value 
and  meaning  of  such  a  ceremony  as  baptism? 
Would  church  membership  be  as  significant  if  it 
were  secured  without  any  formal  ceremony? 
The  activities  of  the  church  have  often  been 
adapted  to  the  needs  of  older  persons  rather 
than  to  those  of  boys.  Emphasis  has  seemed 
until  recently  to  be  placed  more  on  the  things 
which  a  member  may  not  do  than  upon  the 
enjoyable  activities  in  which  he  may  share. 
What  restrictions  has  the  church  in  the  past 
placed  upon  amusements  ?  What  changes  are 
taking  place  in  this  respect  ?  What  opportu- 
nities does  your  church  afford  for  a  boy  to 


130         Problems    of   Boyhood 

have  a  good  time?  What  further  opportu- 
nities would  you  suggest  in  this  direction? 
What  is  the  basis  upon  which  to  decide  what  it 
is  proper  for  a  member  of  a  church  to  do  ? 

People  sometimes  seem  to  regard  religion  as 
a  matter  belonging  only  to  Sunday.  What  rela- 
tion has  religion  to  a  man's  conduct  in  the  office 
or  the  factory?  Has  reHgion  anything  to  do 
with  a  boy  on  the  football  field  or  in  the  class- 
room at  school  ?  If  religion  is  a  matter  of  liv- 
ing, is  there  any  place  or  activity  to  which  it 
does  not  belong  ?  If  you  are  not  a  member  of  a 
church,  what  satisfactory  reason  can  you  give 
for  not  becoming  such  ? 

TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION 

Asceticism  of  the  Middle  Ages.  Christ's  attitude 
toward  social  life  (see  John  2:1-11).  The  church  as  a 
social  center.    Organized  labor  and  the  church. 


YB  30967 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA  LIBRARY 


